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Connecticut  State  Librar 


3  0231    00370  0601 


ENCYCLOPEDIA 

—  OF  — 

CONNECTICUT   BIOGRAPHY 

GENEALOGICAL— MEMORIAL 


REPRESENTATIVE  CITIZENS 


Compiled  with  the  Assistance  of  a 

Capable  Corps  of  Advisers  and  Contributors 


ILLUSTRATED 


■ 


THE  AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  (Inc.) 

NEW  YORK  PUBLISHERS  CHICAGO 


foreword 

EACH  one  of  us  is  "the  heir  of  all 
the  ages,  in  the  foremost  files  of 
time."  We  build  upon  the  solid 
foundations  laid  by  the  strenuous  efforts 
of  the  fathers  who  have  gone  before  us. 
Nothing  is  more  fitting,  and  indeed  more 
important,  than  that  we  should  familiar- 
ize ourselves  with  their  work  and  per- 
sonality; for  it  is  they  who  have  lifted 
us  up  to  the  lofty  positions  from  which 
we  are  working  out  our  separate  careers. 
"Lest  we  forget,"  it  is  important  that  we 
gather  up  the  fleeting  memories  of  the 
past  and  give  them  permanent  record  in 
well-chosen  words  of  biography,  and  in 
such  reproduction  of  the  long  lost  faces 
as  modern  science  makes  possible. 

Samuel  Hart. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


\ 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


LOUNSBURY  FAMILY, 

Ancestral  History. 

In  the  public  records  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut  there  are  many  names  which 
stand  for  all  that  is  high,  all  that  is 
worthy,  all  that  makes  for  public  prog- 
ress. But  rarely  in  any  State  have  two 
members  of  one  family  risen  to  the  high- 
est office  in  the  gift  of  the  Commonwealth, 
and  so  commanded  the  respect  of  their 
contemporaries  and  so  endeared  them- 
selves to  the  general  public  that  they  have 
made  their  name  universally  honored  and 
cherished.  Connecticut  holds  the  name 
of  Lounsbury  second  to  none  in  all  her 
history,  for  the  brothers  Lounsbury,  first 
Phineas  C.  and  later  George  E.,  have  oc- 
cupied the  Governor's  chair  with  honor 
to  their  name  and  with  wide-reaching 
benefit  to  the  State.  In  the  contemplation 
of  the  lives  of  men  of  this  calibre  it  is 
interesting  to  trace  through  former  gen- 
erations the  spirit  which  has  come  down 
to  them  through  the  centuries,  which 
evolved  for  the  citizens  of  to-day  positive 
and  permanent  good. 

The  significance  of  the  surname,  Louns- 
bury, is  literally  the  "Manor  or  Fort- 
ress De  La  Lond,  or  De  La  Land,"  and 
carries  with  it  the  fundamental  meaning 
of  sovereignty,  inasmuch  as  at  that  early 
period  of  Anglo-Norman  history,  partic- 
ularly the  eleventh,  twelfth  and  thir- 
teenth centuries,  land  owners  were  land- 
lords in  the  best  sense  of  that  compound 
word.  It  first  appears  as  the  name  of  a 
locality  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  in  one 
of  its  many  forms  is  still  the  name  of  a 
town  there  called  Londesborough.     It  is 


found  in  Domesday  Book,  where  it  is 
written  Lodensburg.  The  name  has  been 
spelled  in  many  ways,  and  among  the  va- 
rious forms  are :  Lodensburg,  Leone- 
bergh,  Lonesburgh,  Lounesburgh,  Low- 
nesburg,  Lowndesbrough  and  Londes- 
borough. The  Church  of  "Lonesburgh 
or  Lonesbeurg,"  Yorkshire,  England,  was 
granted  to  William  De  Lonesburgh  by 
Stephen,  King  of  England,  from  1135  to 
1 154.  William  De  Lonesburgh  was  also 
treasurer  of  the  Church  of  York. 

(I)  Richard  Lounsbury,  the  Colonial 
ancestor  of  the  Lounsbury  family  in 
America,  was  a  descendant  of  the  De 
Lounsbury  family  of  Yorkshire.  During 
the  religious  wars  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, the  period  of  Puritan  and  Huguenot 
persecutions,  Richard  Lounsbury,  with 
others,  crossed  to  Leyden,  Holland,  to 
seek  more  congenial  conditions.  There 
he  met  and  married  Elizabeth  Du  Bois, 
of  a  distinguished  and  wealthy  French 
Huguenot  family.  Later  Richard  Louns- 
bury, his  wife,  and  a  little  company 
who  sought  the  perfect  religious  freedom 
awaiting  them  on  this  side  the  Atlantic, 
took  passage  on  the  "Bonte  Koeu,"  or 
"Spotted  Cow,"  and  came  to  the  Amer- 
ican colonies.  They  settled  in  Esopus, 
Ulster  county,  New  York,  about  1663. 
His  name  appears  on  a  roll  of  the  Foot 
Company  of  Militia,  Marbletown,  Ulster 
county,  New  York,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Daniel  Broadhead.  Richard 
and  Elizabeth  (Du  Bois)  Lounsbury  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Rye,  New 
York,  in  Westchester  county.  The  com- 
pany who  settled  here  purchased  from 
the   Indians  lands  which   extended  from 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Long  Island  sound  on  the  South,  to  the 
further  boundary  lines  of  White  Plains 
to  the  Northwest,  and  to  the  nearer  boun- 
daries of  Norwalk  to  the  Northeast. 
White  Plains  was  then  included  as  a  part 
of  the  New  England  Colony.  The  early 
records  preserve  but  a  meagre  story  of 
the  struggles  and  achievements  of  those 
first  pioneers,  and  even  the  vital  statis- 
tics are  in  many  cases  only  fragmentary, 
but  in  the  first  will  ever  recorded  in  this 
settlement  Richard  Lounsbury  bequeathed 
to  his  son  Henry  that  portion  of  the  land 
in  Stamford  which  had  been  allotted  to 
him.  The  land  purchased  from  the  In- 
dians is  still  known  as  the  Lounsbury 
Farm.  Richard  Lounsbury's  will  is  pre- 
served in  the  White  Plains  Land  Rec- 
ords. 

(II)  Henry  Lounsbury,  son  of  Rich- 
ard and  Elizabeth  (Du  Bois)  Lounsbury, 
was  born  August  15,  1684,  in  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  died  there  in  1763.  He 
married  Mercy  Scofield,  born  October  30, 
1690,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah 
(Mead)  Scofield. 

(III)  Nathan  Lounsbury,  son  of  Henry 
and  Mercy  (Scofield)  Lounsbury.  was 
born  in  1722,  and  died  in  1793.  He  mar- 
ried, March  22,  1759,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (See- 
ley)  Tallmadge,  born  September  25, 
1734,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Holly)  Seeley,  and  widow  of  Jon- 
athan Tallmadge. 

(IV)  Enos  Lounsbury,  son  of  Nathan 
and  Elizabeth  (Seeley-Tallmadge)  Louns- 
bury, was  born  May  31,  1763,  and  died  in 
1816.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
War  during  the  latter  part  of  that  strug- 
gle, being  less  than  eighteen  years  of  age 
when  he  received  an  honorable  discharge, 
January  I,  1781.  He  married  (second), 
August  3,  1796,  Catee  Waterbury,  born 
March  12,  1766,  daughter  of  Isaac  W. 
and  Thankful   (Scofield)   Waterbury. 

Through    the    Waterbury    family    also 


the  present  members  of  the  Lounsbury 
family  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the 
early  New  England  pioneers.  John  Wat- 
erbury was  born  in  Suffolk  County,  Eng- 
land, about  1620.  He  came  to  America 
about  1641,  and  settled  first  at  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts.  Later  he  sold  his 
land  holdings  there,  and  in  1646  removed 
to  Stamford,  Connecticut.  He  was 
granted  a  parcel  of  land  there  in  1650,  and 
died  in  Stamford,  July  31,  1658.  He  mar- 
ried Rose  Lockwood.  Lieutenant  L>avid 
Waterbury,  their  son,  born  about  1650, 
in  Stamford,  Connecticut,  served  in  King 
Philip's  War.  He  died  November  20, 
1706.  He  married  (first)  Hannah  New- 
man, born  October  29,  1657,  daughter  of 
William  Newman.  John  Waterbury, 
their  son,  was  born  January  25,  1682,  died 
January  20,  1736.  He  married,  December 
4,  1710,  Sussanah  Newkirk.  Isaac  W. 
Waterbury,  their  son,  was  born  about 
1728.  He  married,  February  4,  1750  or 
1751.  in  Bedford,  New  York,  Thankful 
Scofield.  Their  daughter,  Catee,  born 
March  12,  1766,  became  the  wife  of  Enos 
Lounsbury,  as  above  noted. 

(V)  Nathan  Lounsbury,  son  of  Enos 
and  Catee  (Waterbury)  Lounsbury,  was 
born  April  13,  1807,  m  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, and  died  April  2j,  1894,  in  Ridge- 
field,  Connecticut.  He  was  a  prosperous 
and  public-spirited  citizen  of  Fairfield 
county,  highly  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  married,  July  9,  1828,  in 
Poundridge,  New  York,  Delia  A.  Scofield, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Azubah  (Ray- 
mond) Scofield.  She  was  born  January 
28,  1809,  in  Patterson,  New  York,  and 
died  February  21,  1895,  in  Ridgefield. 
Connecticut.  Their  children  were:  1. 
Matilda,  born  April  16,  1829,  died  1867; 
married  Francis  Ouintard,  of  Norwalk, 
Connecticut.  2.  William,  born  June  12. 
1831,  died  October  19,  1874;  married, 
March  1,  1871,  Caroline  Augusta  Youngs, 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


born  October  7,  1850.  3.  Sarah  E.,  mar- 
ried Nelson  B.  Sherwood;  she  died  Octo- 
ber 1,  1896.  4.  Ann  E.,  married  Joel  L. 
Rockwell.  5.  George  E.  (q.  v.)-  6.  Phin- 
eas  Chapman  (q. v.). 


LOUNSBURY,  George  Edward, 

Fortieth  Governor  of  Connecticut. 

There  are  men  upon  whom  the  world 
looks  as  individuals.  There  are  men 
whose  breadth  of  character  reaches  out 
only  to  the  little  circle  about  them.  Then 
there  are  men  to  whom  all  the  world  is 
brother,  who  in  heart  and  deed,  as  well 
as  in  the  spoken  word,  extend  the  hand  of 
fellowship  to  every  man  be  he  king  or 
laborer.  This  was  the  man  which  those 
who  knew  him  best  saw  in  George  Ed- 
ward Lounsbury,  fortieth  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut.  This  was  not  an 
attitude  with  him.  It  was  the  sincere  ex- 
pression of  a  great  soul,  attuned  to  catch 
the  harmony  of  life  through  whatever 
turmoil  might  arise.  He  saw  good  in 
everything,  read  faith  and  high  aspira- 
tion in  every  human  character.  De- 
scended from  a  long  line  of  ancestors  who 
had  held  positions  of  honor  in  public  life, 
and  who  had  been  successful  in  a  material 
way,  he  was  still  a  man  of  simple,  whole- 
some tastes,  while  at  the  same  time  he 
filled  with  dignity  and  grace  every  pub- 
lic duty  which  devolved  upon  him. 

(VI)  George  Edward  Lounsbury  was 
born  May  7,  1838,  the  fifth  child  of  Na- 
than and  Delia  A.  (Scofield)  Lounsbury 
(q.v.).  He  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
Ridgefield,  Connecticut.  Here  he  became 
thoroughly  grounded  in  the  elementary 
studies  which  are  so  important  a  founda- 
tion for  future  scholarship.  He  taught 
school  for  three  years,  and  in  this  prac- 
tical application  of  knowledge  attained 
won  an  added  mental  power  which  placed 


him  at  a  distinct  advantage  in  his  later 
studies.  He  entered  Yale  University, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1863. 
He  then  took  a  course  in  preparation  for 
the  ministry,  a  field  of  usefulness  which 
had  come  to  him  with  a  strong  appeal. 
He  was  graduated  from  Berkeley  Divin- 
ity School,  Middletown,  in  1866.  The 
young  man's  genius  for  oratory  gave 
promise  of  a  wonderful  career  which 
should  be  a  power,  for  the  upbuilding  of 
the  church.  He  was  in  charge  of  the 
Episcopal  church  in  Suffield  for  some 
time,  then  later  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  parish  in  Thompsonville.  He  was 
very  popular  with  the  people  in  both  par- 
ishes, his  earnest  piety  and  thorough 
manliness  giving  force  and  meaning  to 
the  eloquent  words  which  they  heard  from 
his  lips  in  the  pulpit.  For  with  him  re- 
ligion was  a  matter  of  daily  living,  a  prin- 
ciple to  be  applied  to  all  problems,  not 
mere  theory  to  be  expounded  at  stated 
intervals  and  laid  aside  with  the  vest- 
ments worn  on  those  occasions. 

A  radical  change  in  the  young  man's 
plans  for  the  future  was  made  imperative 
by  the  development  of  a  serious  throat 
trouble.  It  became  impossible  for  him  to 
continue  regular  public  speaking,  and  he 
finally  gave  up  the  ministry.  In  1868  he 
became  associated  with  his  brother  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  in  the  manufacture 
of  shoes.  The  utilitarian  side  of  his  nature 
here  found  expression,  and  one  of  his 
most  positive  characteristics  was  his 
wholesome  conviction  that  the  practical 
things  of  life  have  a  dignity  of  their  own 
which  is  second  to  nothing.  Here  also  he 
found  scope  for  unlimited  good  in  the 
true  spirit  of  brotherhood  with  which  he 
met  the  workmen  in  the  factory.  He  was 
a  man  mong  them,  while  his  position  as 
one  of  the  executive  force  was  by  no 
means  disregarded  in  their  attitude  to- 
ward him.     Fearless  on  public  questions, 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


intensely  interested  in  the  public  welfare, 
and  gifted  with  the  ability  to  sway  men  in 
argument,  it  was  but  natural  that  he 
should  find  a  warm  reception  in  the  poli- 
tical world.  His  choice  was  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  this  organization  appre- 
ciated to  the  full  the  force  he  would  be  in 
the  forwarding  of  the  party  interests.  It 
was  soon  clearly  evident  that  party  in- 
terests, as  such,  were  subservient  in  the 
mind  of  this  new  leader  to  the  public 
good.  The  party  found  that  a  wise  and  just 
move  would  have  his  unqualified  support, 
but  anything  which  savored  of  mere  par- 
tisanship would  bring  out  a  counter  pro- 
posal which  his  contagious  enthusiasm 
would  at  once  make  popular.  Fairfield 
county  knew  him,  and  with  unbounded 
confidence  in  his  future  the  Twelfth  Dis- 
trict made  him  more  and  more  their 
leader  as  time  passed.  In  1895  they  nom- 
inated him  for  Senator,  and  he  was  elec- 
ted by  a  gratifying  majority.  His  legis- 
lative career  was  marked  from  the  outset 
by  the  same  fearless  utterances  which  had 
given  him  a  leading  position  in  the  home 
county.  He  was  made  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  and  his  business 
experience,  together  with  his  sound  com- 
mon sense,  brought  about  a  distinct  im- 
provement in  the  work  of  that  committee. 
He  was  again  elected  Senator  from  the 
same  district,  in  1897,  and  during  this 
term  served  as  chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Humane  Institutions.  In  this  con- 
nection it  may  be  said  that  he  did  much 
practical  good  in  the  prepartion  of  bills 
which  related  to  the  management  of  va- 
rious institutions  of  this  nature  through- 
out the  State.  In  all  his  senatorial  rec- 
ord he  exemplified  those  ideals  which  he 
had  always  held  and  had  made  the  very 
fabric  of  his  public  utterances. 

So  it  was  with  the  greatest  confidence 
that  the  Republican  party  placed  the 
name     of     George     Edward     Lounsbury 


in  the  field  in  the  Gubernatorial  election 
of  1898.  He  was  nominated  without  seri- 
ous opposition,  and  as  in  the  case  of  his 
senatorial  elections  he  won  by  a  most  sat- 
isfactory majority.  Throughout  his  ad- 
ministration he  held  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  the  people  as  well  as  the  loyal 
co-operation  of  his  party.  It  may  safely 
be  said  of  him  that  he  was  master  to  an 
unusual  degree  of  the  art  of  knowing 
when  to  speak  and  when  to  keep  silent. 
His  addresses  to  the  different  branches 
of  the  Legislature  were  masterly  ex- 
amples of  oratory,  but  except  in  rare  cases 
were  terse  and  strictly  to  the  point.  The 
practical  trend  of  his  administration  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  reduced  the 
debt  of  the  State  one  million  dollars. 

The  Governor's  retirement  from  public 
life  was  not  coincident  with  his  relin- 
quishment of  his  business  interests.  He 
continued  actively  interested  in  business 
for  a  considerable  time  thereafter.  He 
was  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Ridgefield,  and  during  all  the  period  of 
his  residence  there  was  much  sought  by 
business  men  in  an  advisory  capacity. 
When  he  finally  gave  up  all  active  busi- 
ness, he  still  spent  a  large  part  of  his 
time  in  managing  and  improving  the  fine 
farm  which  has  been  his  home  for  many 
years.  He  always  made  use  of  the  most 
up-to-date  methods  in  farming,  and  as  a 
result  the  products  of  the  place  were  of 
the  finest.  He  gave  freely  of  his  bounty, 
not  only  to  his  immediate  and  personal 
friends,  but  saw  to  it  that  even-  needy 
family  of  his  acquaintance,  or  which 
might  be  brought  to  his  attention,  should 
be  provided  with  a  generous  share  of  such 
comforts  and  delicacies  as  the  farm  af- 
forded. Many  individuals  over  a  wide 
section  in  that  part  of  the  State  have 
reason  to  recall  with  feelings  of  warmest 
affection  and  admiration  the  picturesque 
gentleman  of  the  old  school,  whose  eye 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


kindled  with  genuine  friendliness  for  ev- 
ery one  who  greeted  him. 

A  man's  possessions  are  but  a  poor 
addition  to  the  review  of  his  personality 
and  achievements.  But  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  complete  even  a  sketch  of 
Ex-Governor  Lounsbury's  career  without 
some  mention  of  his  wonderful  library. 
Possessed  of  literary  ability  of  a  fine  or- 
der, he  was  a  lifelong  collector  of  books. 
He  lived  with  his  books  and  lived  in  them, 
and  they  also  lived  in  him  and  in  a  meas- 
ure worked  out  in  his  public  activities  the 
best  thought  that  has  been  immortalized 
on  the  printed  page.  His  books  were  his 
closest  friends,  and  to  him  a  worthy  ideal 
expounded  in  crisp  new  binding  was  as 
rich  a  treasure  as  the  rarest  old  first  edi- 
tion of  an  early  master  of  literature.  A 
simple  tribute  published  soon  after  his 
death,  August  16,  1904,  expressed  the  uni- 
versal sentiment  among  his  friends.  It 
was  as  follows : 

The  Connecticut  men  who  knew  him  will  keep 
pleasant  and  kindly  memories  of  George  E. 
Lounsbury.  He  was  a  pleasant,  kindly  man.  The 
enjoyment  which  he  took  in  sharing  the  treasure 
of  his  orchard  with  his  friends  was  a  character- 
istic trait.  An  attractive  gentleman,  he  was  al- 
ways a  good  friend.  It  is  with  regret  that  we  say 
farewell  to  him. 


LOUNSBURY,  Phineas  Chapman, 

Banker,    Statesman,    Ex-Governor    of    Con- 
necticut. 

Any  man  who  for  the  greater  part  of  a 
long  lifetime  has  stood  before  the  public 
has  received  from  many  sources  the 
meaningless  adulation  which  is  the  meed 
of  fame.  But  long  before  he  reached  the 
zenith  of  his  powers  he  learned  to  prize, 
in  the  kindling  eye  and  the  deepened 
voice,  the  unstudied  response  of  the  peo- 
ple to  his  giving  of  himself.  The  Hon. 
Phineas  Chapman  Lounsbury,  of  Ridge- 
field,  Connecticut,  retired  banker  and  Ex- 


Governor,  has  won  his  share  of  these  un- 
spoken laurels,  for  he  is  to-day  as  he  al- 
ways has  been  close  to  the  people — "a 
friend  to  man." 

(VI)  Phineas  Chapman  Lounsbury 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Ridgefield,  Janu- 
ary 10,  1841,  the  sixth  child  of  Nathan  and 
Delia  A.  (Scofield)  Lounsbury  (q.  v.). 
Descended  from  a  long  line  of  high- 
minded,  public-spirited  ancestors,  and 
personally  gifted  with  those  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  which  command  spon- 
taneous respect,  he  is  a  man  peculiarly 
fitted  to  handle  large  interests.  His  child- 
hood and  youth  were  spent  on  the  farm, 
where  was  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
splendid  health  which  he  has  enjoyed 
during  his  later  years.  He  received  a 
thorough  academic  education,  and  entered 
a  business  career  with  the  organization 
of  the  firm  of  Lounsbury  Brothers.  They 
manufactured  shoes,  the  factory  being 
first  located  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
then  in  South  Norwalk,  same  State,  when 
the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Lounsbury, 
Mathewson  &  Company.  Here  the  bus- 
iness was  more  broadly  developed,  the  fa- 
cilities and  equipment  being  much  more 
advantageous.  The  firm  became  widely 
known  for  the  excellence  of  its  product 
and  for  the  honorable  dealings  which 
were  the  basis  of  its  business  policy.  As 
the  head  of  the  firm  Mr.  Lounsbury  soon 
became  a  man  of  more  than  local  note 
and  was  sought  by  business  men  in  many 
sections  for  advice  on  monetary  affairs. 
He  became  a  member  of  the  Merchants' 
Exchange  National  Bank,  of  New  York 
City,  and  won  so  high  a  place  in  the  es- 
teem of  that  important  institution  that  in 
1885  he  was  elected  its  president  by 
unanimous  vote.  This  bank  was  organized 
in  1829  with  a  capital  of  one  million  dol- 
lars, then  an  enormous  sum  of  money, 
and  his  position  at  the  head  of  the  insti- 
tution   gave    Mr.    Lounsbury    a    leading 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


place  among  the  great  financiers  of  the 
country.  It  was  not  long  after  his  first 
connection  with  the  Merchant's  Exchange 
National  that  he  was  also  made  a  director 
of  the  Atlantic  National  Bank,  of  New 
York.  He  has  been  a  director  of  the 
American  Banknote  Company,  of  New 
York,  for  forty-five  years,  and  is  the  last 
surviving  corporator  of  the  Washington 
Trust  Company  of  that  city.  For  many 
years  he  was  actively  interested  in  other 
enterprises  and  was  a  valued  adviser,  to 
which  he  added  a  sane  appraisal  of  a 
critical  situation,  and  he  possessed  a  fear- 
less courage  in  going  forward  along  any 
line  which  he  approved.  Although  this 
multiplicity  of  interests  in  New  York  de- 
manded much  of  his  time,  he  was  during 
all  of  his  business  career  closely  identi- 
fied with  his  manufacturing  interests  in 
this  State,  upon  which  he  still  keeps  an 
over-sight.  One  of  his  most  cherished 
mementoes  of  his  active  business  life  was 
presented  to  him  upon  his  completion,  in 
1919,  of  forty  years  service  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Atlantic 
National  Bank.  It  was  the  finest  ex- 
ample of  the  watchmaker's  art  which 
could  be  obtained,  and  was  presented  by 
his  associates  as  a  token  of  their  esteem, 
accompanied  by  the  following  resolutions  : 

At  the  completion  of  forty  years  of  service  in 
the  management  of  the  bank  by  our  Chairman, 
Phineas  C.  Lounsbury,  having  in  mind  the  many 
benefits  which  have  accrued  to  this  institution 
through  his  long  and  faithful  services,  and  the 
success  that  has  attended  his  watchful  care  of  the 
interests  of  the  stockholders,  during  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  more  than  a  generation, 

Be  it  Resolved,  That  Kimball  C.  Atwood,  Da- 
vid L.  Luke  and  Lorenzo  Benedict  be,  and  here- 
by are  appointed  a  committee  authorized  to  pre- 
sent to  Governor  Lounsbury,  on  behalf  of  the 
bank,  a  token  suitably  inscribed  to  show  its  ap- 
preciation of  his  valuable  services,  with  the  con- 
gratulations of  the  board  on  his  achievements, 
and  the  hope  that  he  may  long  continue  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  active  management  of  the  bank. 


But  to  the  people  of  Connecticut  Ex- 
Governor  Lounsbury's  political  career 
holds  a  deeper  significance  than  his  long 
and  honorable  career  in  the  business 
world.  He  exercised  the  franchise  at  the 
first  election  after  he  reached  his  major- 
ity, casting  his  first  vote  in  1862.  Then, 
as  now,  he  supported  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist 
at  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities  between 
the  North  and  South,  and  served  as  a 
private  in  the  Seventeenth  Connecticut 
Volunteers.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged after  several  months  on  account 
of  serious  illness.  Later  he  was  recom- 
mended for  a  pension.  While  he  deeply 
appreciated  this  recognition  of  his  serv- 
ices, he  declined  the  emolument  since  he 
had  no  need  of  it. 

During  the  period  following  the  war, 
he  labored  with  unflagging  zeal  in  the  re- 
construction of  the  old  order,  which  was 
as  real  and  vital  a  problem  in  the  North 
as  it  was  in  the  South.  His  party  was 
not  slow  to  recognize  in  the  young  man 
the  possibilities  of  leadership.  In  1874 
the  Republicans  of  the  town  of  Ridge- 
field  elected  him  to  represent  the  town  in 
the  State  House  of  Representatives.  The 
temperance  question  was  one  of  the  live 
issues  of  the  campaign,  and  it  was  largely 
his  attitude  in  regard  to  it  that  won  him 
success.  In  this  broader  field  the  tal- 
ents which  had  been  recognized  in  the 
home  environment  were  at  once  acclaimed 
by  the  assembled  Republicans,  and  they 
placed  in  his  hands  the  more  weighty  and 
important  issues  which  held  their  inter- 
est. In  short  he  speedily  became  a  leader. 
His  business  experience,  together  with  the 
sane  and  practical  way  in  which  he  ap- 
plied it  to  the  proceedings  of  a  commit- 
tee or  the  handling  of  a  debate,  contrib- 
uted largely  to  the  success  of  the  meas- 
ures  for   which   he   labored.      He   was   a 


8 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


member  of  the  committee  which  framed 
the  rigid  local  option  laws  of  the  State. 

As  an  orator  Ex-Governor  Lounsbury 
has  made  a  lasting  impression  on  the  peo- 
ple of  the  State,  as  well  as  on  his  col- 
leagues at  the  Capitol.  During  the  pres- 
idential campaign  of  1884  he  addressed 
great  gatherings  in  the  interests  of  James 
G.  Blaine.  His  eloquence  evoked  the 
most  laudatory  comment  on  the  occasion 
of  the  dedication  at  Woodstock,  in  1886, 
of  the  monument  to  the  Sons  of  Connec- 
ticut who  lost  their  lives  on  the  field  of 
Gettysburg.  The  personal  magnetism 
which  has  been  a  part  of  his  success  in 
the  political  field  made  him  readily  sug- 
gestable  for  the  highest  office  in  the  gift 
of  the  State.  In  1882  his  name  was  en- 
thusiastically mentioned  for  Governor, 
but  for  party  reasons  it  was  withdrawn 
and  the  nomination  was  given  to  the  Hon. 
William  H.  Bulkeley,  brother  of  Ex-Gov- 
ernor Morgan  G.  Bulkeley.  In  1884  many 
friends  again  desired  Mr.  Lounsbury's 
nomination,  but  it  was  finally  given  to  Mr. 
Harrison.  In  1886  the  sentiment  was 
overwhelming  for  Mr.  Lounsbury,  who 
had  worked  loyally  for  the  success  of  the 
previous  candidates.  At  the  convention 
in  Hartford  in  1886  he  was  unanimously 
nominated  for  Governor  on  the  first  bal- 
lot. His  popularity  with  the  people  was 
substantially  demonstrated  at  the  polls, 
and  on  January  6,'  1887,  Phineas  Chap- 
man Lounsbury  was  inaugurated  Gover- 
nor of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  During 
the  two  years  which  his  term  of  office 
covered,  he  fulfilled  the  most  confident 
prophesies  of  his  friends  and  administered 
wisely  the  trust  placed  in  his  hands  by 
the  people  of  the  State.  A  law  which 
has  been  called  one  of  the  most  important 
of  his  administration  is  the  "Incorrigible 
Criminals  Act."  This  law  provides  for 
the  detention  for  a  long  period  of  any 
criminal   convicted   twice  of  any  offense 


for  which  the  penalty  is  not  less  than  two 
years.  The  justification  of  the  severity 
of  such  measures  is  that  primarily  the 
state  prison  is  for  the  protection  of  so- 
ciety. The  Ex-Governor's  own  argument 
for  the  bill  was  that  as  a  mad  dog  or  a 
tiger  must  be  confined  for  the  safety  of 
the  public,  so  the  man  who  has  shown 
himself  to  be  devoid  of  honor  must  be 
imprisoned  permanently,  not  allowed  to 
prey  upon  the  community.  The  vote  upon 
this  Act  was  unanimous.  His  entire  ad- 
ministration was  marked  by  a  frank  and 
consistent  deference  to  the  highest  stand- 
ards of  right  and  a  never  failing  consid- 
eration of  the  welfare  of  the  people.  The 
rare  tribute  of  praise  from  an  opponent 
was  paid  him  by  the  "Hartford  Times," 
the  leading  Democratic  paper  of  the  State, 
at  the  close  of  his  term  of  office,  as  fol- 
lows : 

Governor  Lounsbury  retires  from  the  executive 
office  to-morrow,  with  a  record  alike  creditable 
to  him  as  a  man  and  as  an  official.  While  our 
political  preference  did  not  favor  his  election  to 
the  chief  magistracy  of  the  state,  and  while  we 
had,  in  the  outset,  some  doubts  as  to  the  probable 
methods  of  his  official  course,  we  may  frankly  say 
at  this  time  that  we  are  satisfied  that  he  has  been 
one  of  the  best  governors  Connecticut  has  ever 
had.  We  have  found  in  Governor  Lounsbury  a 
gentleman  of  sterling  integrity,  of  unfailing  cour- 
tesy, gifted  with  excellent  business  tact,  and  in- 
clined to  administer  the  affairs  of  the  state  on 
business  principles  and  with  a  view  to  economy 
and  efficiency  in  every  matter  requiring  his  offi- 
cial consideration  and  action.  Governor  Louns- 
bury unquestionably  retires  from  office  with  the 
respect  and  hearty  good  feeling  of  every  one,  ir- 
respective of  party,  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  into  official  or  personal  relations. 

Such  is  the  record  and  such  the  people's 
appreciation  of  the  thirty-fifth  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

In  the  rapidly  thinning  ranks  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Ex-Gover- 
nor Lounsbury  is  a  prominent  figure.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Edwin  D.  Pickett  Post, 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  Stamford.  He  is  one  of  the  two  still 
living  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-two 
volunteers  in  the  Civil  War  who  enlisted 
from  Ridgefield.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Union  League  and  Republican  clubs  of 
New  York  City,  and  is  a  member  of  Jer- 
usalem Lodge,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  ;  and  Eureka  Chapter,  Royal  Arch 
Masons.  He  has  always  been  a  devoted 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  an  active  and  in- 
fluential layman  in  the  deliberations  of 
the  church  gatherings.  He  served  as  a 
lay  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  in 
1888,  and  has  since  served  in  many  sim- 
ilar capacities.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  a  trustee  of  Wesleyan  University, 
Middletown,  Connecticut,  from  which  in- 
stitution he  received  the  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Laws  in  1887. 

Ex-Governor  Lounsbury  married,  in 
1867,  Jennie  Wright,  daughter  of  Neziah 
Wright,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bank  Note  Company.  The  home 
in  Ridgefield  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
estates  in  Connecticut,  comprising  seven- 
ty-five acres  in  rolling  lawns  adorned 
with  many  varieties  of  flowers  and  fine 
trees.  The  Lounsbury  home  has  always 
been  the  center  of  the  most  genial  hospi- 
tality, and  here  Ex-Governor  Lounsbury 
is  at  his  best,  for  added  to  the  dignity 
with  which  he  meets  the  public  is  the 
wholesouled  charm  of  the  man  as  a  host. 


LOUNSBURY,  Charles  Hugh, 

Manufacturer,  Man   of  Affairs. 

When  a  man  has  won  his  way  to  suc- 
cess in  the  business  world  he  has  learned 
much  of  practical  value.  The  use  of  this 
knowledge  in  the  administration  of  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  in  the  management  of 
economic  institutions,  constitutes  a  gen- 
uine service  to  mankind.  The  city  which 
can  command  the  loyal  cooperation  of  her 


successful  business  men  is  the  city  which 
holds  a  leading  place  in  the  march  of 
progress.  Stamford,  Connecticut,  counts 
among  the  names  of  real  significance  to 
the  community  that  of  Charles  Hugh 
Lounsbury,  formerly  manufacturer,  now 
banker  and  merchant  of  that  city. 

(II)  Michael  Lounsbury,  son  of  Rich- 
ard and  Elizabeth  (Du  Bois)  Lounsbury 
(q.  v.),  was  also  a  prominent  man  in  the 
community,  as  the  detailed  records  show. 
He  was  born  in  Rye,  New  York,  and 
came  to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  about 
1703.  Book  A,  of  Stamford  Land  Rec- 
ords, page  410,  records  that  on  January 
25,  1702  or  1703,  he  bought  from  Samuel 
Webb  for  the  sum  of  £43  10s.  seven 
acres  of  upland  on  the  west  side  of  Mill 
river,  and  woodland  on  Pepper  Weed 
Ridge,  near  Taunton.  In  1706  or  1707 
he  obtained  twenty-seven  acres  in  the 
Rocky  Neck,  and  in  the  same  year  other 
land  in  partnership  with  Edmond  Lock- 
wood,  whose  sister  Sarah  he  married, 
June  19,  1707.  Records  of  the  town  of 
Rye  show  that  in  the  year  1709  he  sold 
land  there  which  he  had  inherited  from 
his  father.  He  was  chosen  highway  sur- 
veyor at  a  Stamford  town  meeting,  De- 
cember 15,  1719,  and  again  on  January  5, 
1725  or  1726.  On  December  18,  1722,  he 
was  one  of  the  collectors  chosen  to 
"gather  ye  Revarant  Mr.  Davenport's 
rate."     He  died  January  20,  1730. 

Robert  Lockwood,  grandfather  of  Sa- 
rah (Lockwood)  Lounsbury,  was  one  of 
the  early  Massachusetts  settlers.  He 
came  from  England  about  1630,  and  set- 
tled in  Watertown,  Massachusetts.  He 
was  made  a  freeman,  March  9,  1636,  and 
in  1646  removed  to  Fairfield,  Connecti- 
cut, where  he  died  in  1658.  His  widow, 
Susannah,  died  December  23.  1660.  Jon- 
athan Lockwood,  their  son,  was  born 
September  10,  1634,  in  Watertown,  Mas- 
sachusetts,   and    died    May    12,    1688,    in 


10 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Greenwich,  Connecticut.  He  was  in 
Stamford,  October  i6;  1660,  and  lived 
there  for  five  years.  He  removed  to 
Greenwich,  and  became  a  freeman  in 
1670.  He  was  one  of  the  twenty-seven 
original  proprietors  of  that  town,  served 
in  the  Legislature,  and  held  several  minor 
offices.  He  married  Mary  Ferris,  daugh- 
ter of  Jeffrey  Ferris,  who  was  a  freeman 
in  Boston  in  1635.  Sarah  Lockwood, 
their  daughter,  married,  June  19,  1707, 
Michael  Lounsbury,  as  above  noted. 

(III)  Joshua  Lounsbury,  son  of  Mich- 
ael and  Sarah  (Lockwood)  Lounsbury, 
was  born  in  Stamford,  Connecticut,  July 
1,  1716.  He  was  a  prosperous  man,  and 
his  name  appears  in  the  records  of  many 
land  transactions.  One  of  these  was  the 
purchase  of  a  triangular  tract  lying  di- 
rectly in  front  of  the  present  (1919)  site 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  At 
some  time  between  the  years  1757  and 
1774  he  moved  over  the  line  into  the  Col- 
ony of  New  York,  for  in  the  latter  year 
his  name  appears  in  the  North  Castle 
Land  Records  as  a  resident  of  that  town. 
His  first  wife,  whom  he  married  May  3, 
1739,  was  Hannah  Scofield,  born  Decem- 
ber 11,  1718.  She  was  the  mother  of  his 
children,  and  died  in  Stamford,  March  20, 
1750.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  Scofield.  Joshua  Lounsbury's 
will  was  the  fifth  on  record  in  the  Surro- 
gate Court  at  White  Plains,  and  is  found 
in  Book  A,  page  10,  dated  May  28,  1787. 
It  was  proved  December  12,  1787,  and 
mentions  his  wife,  Martha,  his  eldest 
daughter,  Hannah  Smith ;  his  second 
daughter,  Sarah  Brown ;  his  youngest 
daughter,  Lydia  Southerland ;  his  son, 
Joshua,  Jr. ;  his  grandson,  Silas,  son  of 
Joshua,  Jr. ;  and  his  granddaughters, 
Martha  and  Mary  Ann  Southerland.  His 
second  wife,  Martha  Lounsbury,  died 
January  14,  1813,  aged  eighty-eight  years. 

(IV)  Joshua    (2)    Lounsbury,    son    of 


Joshua  (1)  and  Hannah  (Scofield)  Louns- 
bury, was  born  October  4,  1745,  and  died 
April  4,  1826.  He  was  a  dutiful  son  and 
a  devoted  husband  and  father.  With  the 
flower  of  the  colonies  he  took  a  loyal  part 
in  the  struggle  for  Independence  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  but  survived  without 
being  seriously  incapacitated.  He  mar- 
ried Susannah  Smith,  born  October  3, 
1752. 

(V)  Silas  Lounsbury,  son  of  Joshua 
(2)  and  Susannah  (Smith)  Lounsbury, 
was  born  January  17,  1771.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  lived  for  many  years  in  Stan- 
wich,  Connecticut.  He  was  a  man  of  pro- 
gressive ideas,  who  thought  ahead  of  his 
time  and  built  for  the  future  of  his  chil- 
dren. 

(VI)  George  Lounsbury,  son  of  Silas 
Lounsbury,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Fairfield  county,  Connecticut.  He  served 
in  local  public  offices  and  as  a  member  of 
the  State  Legislature.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  merchant  at  Long  Ridge,  in  the 
town  of  Stamford,  but  later  returned  to 
the  life  of  the  open,  which  had  interested 
him  as  a  boy,  and  conducted  a  farm.  He 
married  Louisa  Scofield,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Scofield,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children :  Mary,  who  married 
Seth  S.  Cook;  Sarah,  who  married  James 
H.  Rowland ;  Susan,  who  married  Philip 
Clark ;  Harriet,  deceased ;  George,  de- 
ceased ;  Charles  Hugh,  of  whom  further ; 
Jane  E.,  living;  Elizabeth,  deceased. 

(VII)  Charles  Hugh  Lounsbury,  son 
of  George  and  Louisa  (Scofield)  Louns- 
bury, was  born  August  19,  1839.  He 
spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm  at  Long 
Ridge,  but  as  he  grew  to  manhood  he 
felt  the  restrictions  of  the  life  and  chose 
to  branch  out  for  himself.  He  entered 
into  a  partnership  with  Scofield  &  Cook. 
Three  years  later,  in  1861,  F.  B.  Scofield 
retired  from  the  business,  which  was 
thereafter  carried  on  under  the  firm  name 


II 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  Cook  &  Lounsbury.  The  manufacture 
of  shoes  was  becoming  an  important  in- 
dustry in  New  England,  and  this  firm 
held  a  high  standard  of  excellence  in  its 
product.  The  business  grew  with  the 
growth  of  the  section  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  country.  The  partnership 
continued  until  1884,  when  a  period  en- 
sued when  general  trade  changes  made 
reorganization  advisable.  The  first  change 
in  the  business  was  that  of  location,  the 
factory  being  removed  to  the  more  pop- 
ulous part  of  the  town  near  the  railroad 
tracks.  At  this  time,  George  H.  Soule, 
a  bright,  alert  young  man  who  had  for 
some  time  been  connected  with  the  sales 
department,  was  admitted  to  membership 
with  the  firm,  and  the  senior  member, 
Seth  S.  Cook,  withdrew.  This  placed 
Mr.  Lounsbury  at  the  head  of  the  firm  and 
the   name   became    Lounsbury    &    Soule. 

In  1885  tne  firm  to°k  a  l°n&  steP  ahead 
in  assuming  possession  of  the  new  fac- 
tory on  Broad  street  where  the  business 
is  still  located.  The  factory  was  equipped 
with  the  most  modern  machinery,  and 
from  that  day  until  the  present  time  the 
policy  of  the  firm  has  remained  the  same, 
up-to-date  equipment,  the  most  improved 
methods,  and  always  quality  the  first  con- 
sideration. 

In  1894  the  firm  branched  out  into  the 
retail  trade,  purchasing  a  store  at  No. 
26  Atlantic  street.  Here  they  conducted 
a  thriving  retail  business  under  the  name 
of  the  Stamford  Shoe  Company.  They 
met  the  needs  of  the  retail  trade  with  the 
same  comprehensive  attention  to  all  per- 
tinent details  which  has  always  charac- 
terized their  manufacturing  business. 
Later  Mr.  Lounsbury  retired  and  the 
company  was  then  incorporated.  Late 
in  the  year  1904  he  became  president  of 
the  Stamford  Savings  Bank,  and  since 
that  time  this  interest  has  almost  exclu- 
sively held  his  attention.     He  still  owns 


the  Stamford  Shoe  Company,  which  be- 
came his  personal  property  when  he  re- 
tired from  the  firm. 

Mr.  Lounsbury  has  always  held  the 
keenest  interest  in  the  public  welfare  and 
civic  progress.  While  never  seeking  po- 
litical preferment,  and  caring  nothing  for 
the  game  for  its  own  sake,  he  never  shirks 
any  part  in  the  public  service  which  ap- 
peals to  him  as  a  duty.  His  political 
convictions  hold  him  loyal  to  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Burgesses  and  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil, also  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  of  which 
he  was  president  for  some  years.  He  is 
a  director  of  the  Stamford  Trust  Com- 
pany and  of  the  Stamford  Savings  Bank, 
and  is  secretary  and  assistant  treasurer  of 
the  Stamford  Gas  and  Electric  Company, 
and  a  director  of  the  Stamford  National 
Bank.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Stam- 
ford Hospital.  He  is  a  member  of  Union 
Lodge,  No.  5,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  Stamford,  and  also  of  the 
Suburban  Club. 

Mr.  Lounsbury  married,  in  Stamford, 
Anna  Perry  Samuel,  of  St.  Louis,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  three  daughters: 
Alice ;  Mary ;  Louise,  who  was  the  wife 
of  William  P.  Hudson,  and  was  the  mo- 
ther of  two  children,  Florence,  deceased, 
and  Charles  H.  L.,  who  was  an  ensign  in 
the  Navy  during  the  European  War. 


LOCKWOOD  FAMILY, 

Ancestral  History. 

The  Lockwood  family  is  of  ancient 
English  origin,  the  name  being  mentioned 
in  Domesday  Book,  which  dates  it  back 
over  eight  hundred  years.  A  place  of  the 
name  in  Staffordshire,  England,  is  cele- 
brated for  the  medical  quality  of  the 
water  of  its  springs.  There  was  also  a 
town  of  Lockwood  in  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land.    In  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  one 


12 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


John  Lockwood  was  attached  to  the  royal 
party,  fought  at  Naseby,  and  was  there 
wounded,  1327,  1377.  In  1392  the  name 
of  John  Lockwood  is  mentioned.  In  1470 
the  Lockwood  estates  passed  to  the  Hen- 
shaws  by  marriage.  The  name  is  often 
spelled  Lokewood  and  Lockewood,  and 
is  a  compound  word  formed  thus :  Locke 
or  Lock  referring  to  a  dweller  in  or  by 
an  enclosure  or  confine,  and  wod,  wode, 
which  is  old  English  wudu,  meaning 
wood.  Hence  a  remote  ancestor  of  the 
family  dwelt  in  a  clearing  or  by  the  side 
of  a  large  wood  and  which  gave  him  his 
name.  The  American  branch  of  the  race 
was  founded  nearly  three  centuries  ago 
by  Robert  and  Edmund  Lockwood,  who 
came  with  Winthrop's  company  to  Mas- 
sachusetts. Their  descendants  were 
largely  represented  in  the  Colonial  and 
Revolutionary  wars,  and  at  all  periods  in 
our  history  have  proved  themselves 
worthy  and  patriotic  citizens.  The  fam- 
ily is  entitled  to  display  the  following  es- 
cutcheon which  was  granted  in  1530  to 
the  Rev.  Richard  Lockwood,  rector  of 
Dingley,  Northamptonshire,  England: 

Arms — Argent,  a  fesse  between  three  martlets 
sable. 

Crest — On  the  stump  of  an  oak  tree  erased 
proper  a  martlet  sable. 

Motto — Tutus  in  undis.  (Secure  against  the 
waves.) 

(I)  Robert  Lockwood,  founder  of  the 
Stamford  and  Greenwich  branch  of  the 
family,  settled  in  Watertown,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1630,  and  in  1637  was  made  a 
freeman.  In  1646  he  removed  to  Fairfield, 
Connecticut,  where  he  was  made  a  free- 
man in  1652,  and  became  a  man  of  promi- 
nence in  the    community.      He    married 

Susannah ,  and  his  death  occurred 

in  Fairfield,  in  1658.  His  widow  married 
(second)  Jeffrey  Ferris,  and  survived  un- 
til 1680. 

(II)  Lieutenant   Jonathan    Lockwood, 


son  of  Robert  and  Susannah  Lockwood, 
was  born  September  10,  1634,  in  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts.  On  January  1, 
1657,  at  Easttowne,  New  Netherlands, 
signed  a  paper  promising  allegiance  to 
the  Dutch  governor  "so  long  as  we  live 
in  his  jurisdiction."  In  1660  he  was  of 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  where  he  lived 
until  1665.  He  then  sold  his  estate  and 
removed  to  Greenwich.  In  1670  he  was 
made  a  freeman,  in  1671  assistant,  and  in 
1672  became  "one  of  the  twenty-seven 
proprietors."  During  four  years  he  rep- 
resented the  town  in  the  Legislature.  His 
wife  was  Mary  (sometimes  called  Ma- 
rah),  daughter  of  Jeffrey  Ferris.  Lieu- 
tenant Lockwood  passed  away  May  12, 
1688,  and  a  town  meeting  was  called  at 
which  resolutions  were  adopted  expres- 
sive of  the  loss  sustained  by  the  commun- 
ity in  the  death  of  such  a  man. 

(III)  Still  John  Lockwood,  son  of 
Jonathan  and  Mary  (Ferris)  Lockwood, 
was  born  about  1674,  in  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut. The  name  of  his  wife  is  un- 
known.    His  death  occurred  in  1758. 

(IV)  Jonathan  (2)  Lockwood,  son  of 
Still  John  Lockwood,  was  born  in  1719, 
in  Greenwich,  Connecticut.  He  married 
Mercy .    He  died  January  24,  1798. 

(V)  Frederick  Lockwood,  son  of  Jon- 
athan (2)  and  Mercy  Lockwood,  was  born 
February  3,  1763,  in  Greenwich,  Connec- 
ticut. He  acted  as  executor  of  his  father's 
estate.  He  married  Deborah  Reynolds, 
born  May  24,  1766,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Sarah  (Lockwood)  Reynolds,  grand- 
daughter of  Nathan  Lockwood,  great- 
granddaughter  of  Gershom  Lockwood, 
great-great-granddaughter  of  Jonathan 
Lockwood,  and  great-great-great-grand- 
daughter of  Robert  Lockwood,  the  immi- 
grant. Frederick  Lockwood  died  in  1808. 
His  widow  passed  away  in  1857,  after  she 
had  entered  her  ninety-first  year. 

(VI)  Captain  Uriah  Lockwood,  son  of 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Frederick  and  Deborah  (Reynolds)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  September  i8,  1805.  He 
was  a  farmer,  running  a  market  sloop 
from  Mianus  to  New  York  City.  He  mar- 
ried, September  24,  1827,  Rebecca  Smith, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca  (Mills) 
Smith,  of  Stamford,  and  the  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were:  Samuel,  Abra- 
ham, George,  Abigail,  Polly,  Nancy,  Re- 
becca, born  January  19,  1804;  Alexander, 
and  Joseph.  Children  of  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Lockwood :  1.  Henry  Smith,  of 
further  mention.  2.  William  A.,  born 
March  9,  1830,  died  September  3,  183 1.  3. 
Frederick  Mills,  born  March  21,  1832, 
died  October  21,  1892;  married,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1864,  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of 
Edward  Hewes,  and  their  children  were: 
Frederick,  born  September  22,  1865,  and 
Mary  E.,  born  May  22,  1868,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased,  each  having 
left  an  heir.  4.  Mary  A.,  born  January 
28,  1834;  married  Andrew  Ferris,  son  of 
George  Ferris,  and  died  April  n,  1875. 
5.  John  L.,  born  August  16,  1836;  mar- 
ried, January  27,  1863,  Mary  C.  Goodwin, 
and  died  October  30,  1904.  6.  Emily  E., 
born  January  12,  1839;  married  William 
H.  Ferris,  brother  of  Andrew  Ferris,  and 
died  January  19,  1905.  7.  George  E.,  born 
July  6,  1841,  died  October  28,  1874.  8. 
Joseph  Albert,  born  July  8,  1843  >  now  re- 
sides near  Ossining,  New  York.  Captain 
Uriah  Lockwood  died  August  14,  1880, 
and  his  widow  survived  until  January  21, 
1893. 

(VII)  Captain  Henry  Smith  Lock- 
wood,  son  of  Captain  Uriah  and  Rebecca 
(Smith)  Lockwood,  was  born  April  30, 
1828,  in  the  western  part  of  the  town  of 
Greenwich,  and  received  his  education  at 
the  Greenwich  Academy.  As  a  young  man 
he  assisted  in  the  building  of  the  first 
bridge  which  spanned  the  Mianus  river, 
and  at  the  same  period  of  his  life  ran  a 
market  sloop,  in  association  with  his  fa- 


ther, to  New  York  City.  Some  few  years 
later  Captain  Lockwood  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  an  oyster  planter,  be- 
ginning by  transplanting  from  natural 
beds  to  his  own.  That  was  about  1854,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  first  to  undertake  the 
method  of  transplanting.  His  enterprise 
proved  successful  and  he  developed  a 
business  which  was  a  large  one  for  his 
day.  Later  his  sons  purchased  the  busi- 
ness. 

Captain  Lockwood  married,  December 
22,  1850,  Sarah  Elizabeth  White,  born 
February  3,  1828,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Phoebe  (Reynolds)  White,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: 1.  Nelson  Uriah,  whose  biography 
follows.  2.  Elbert  Franklin,  whose  biog- 
raphy follows.  3.  William  H.,  born  Oc- 
tober 25,  1855;  married,  December  31, 
1879,  Mary  Campbell,  born  December  21, 
1859,  daughter  of  Andrew  G.  and  Mary 
A.  Campbell,  and  the  following  children 
have  been  born  to  them :  Elbert  Franklin, 
born  October  23,  1880,  died  February  27, 
1882;  Florence  White,  born  October  8, 
1882,  married,  November  22,  1905,  Walter 
T.,  born  February  25,  1882,  son  of  Henry 
E.  and  Lillian  T.  Wessels,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Florence  Lockwood  Wessels, 
born  September  19,  1906;  Agnes  Camp- 
bell, born  September  25,  1885,  died  Janu- 
ary 12,  1888;  Alice  Campbell,  born  June 
5,  1889;  and  Henry  Smith,  born  June  27, 
1891.  William  H.  Lockwood  and  his 
wife  are  of  Brooklyn,  New  York.  Cap- 
tain Henry  Smith  Lockwood  died  Novem- 
ber 22,  1910,  his  wife  having  passed  away 
July  20,  1908.  Mrs.  Lockwood  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

Captain  Henry  Smith  Lockwood  was 
an  able,  aggressive  business  man,  a  good 
citizen,  and  irreproachable  in  every  rela- 
tion of  private  life. 


14 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


LOCKWOOD,  Edward  Morgan, 

Lawyer,  Public  Official. 

It  is  a  pleasure  and  source  of  satisfac- 
tion to  trace  descent  from  the  old  and 
honored  families  of  Colonial  days,  as  does 
Edward  M.  Lockwood,  of  Norwalk. 
Some  idea  of  the  ancient  origin  of  the 
name  of  Lockwood  is  gleaned  from  the 
fact  that  it  appears  in  the  "Domesday 
Book." 

(II)  Ephraim  Lockwood,  fourth  son 
of  Robert  and  Susannah  Lockwood  (q. 
v.),  was  born  December  I,  1641,  in  Wa- 
tertown.  He  was  but  a  youth  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Norwalk,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  He  purchased  a 
house  and  lot  and  had  an  inventory  of 
seventy  pounds  in  1673,  and  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds  in  1687,  which 
proves  that  he  was  a  sturdy,  thrifty  man. 
He  married,  June  8,  1665,  Mercy  St.  John, 
daughter  of  Matthias  St.  John.  The  lat- 
ter was  the  first  of  the  name  in  America, 
born  in  England,  and  came  to  Dorchester, 
Massachusetts,  in  1631-32.  He  was  in 
Windsor  in  1640,  and  in  1654  removed  to 
Norwalk.  The  name  of  his  wife  is  not 
on  record. 

(III)  Daniel  Lockwood,  son  of  Eph- 
raim and  Mercy  (St.  John)  Lockwood, 
was  born  August  13,  1668,  in  Norwalk, 
Connecticut,  and  died  there  previous  to 
1744.  He  was  the  official  "pounder"  of 
lawless  cattle,  March  5,  1700.  He  mar- 
ried, November  30,  1702,  Charity  Clem- 
ents, daughter  of  Rev.  William  and  Eliza- 
beth Clements. 

(IV)  Daniel  (2)  Lockwood,  eldest  son 
of  Daniel  (1)  and  Charity  (Clements) 
Lockwood,  was  born  December  13,  1703, 
in  Stamford,  Connecticut.  He  married 
(first)  April  5,  1734,  Mary  Webb,  born 
July  28,  1 71 5,  died  May  28,  1741,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Hait)  Webb. 

(V)  Daniel   (3)   Lockwood,  first  child 


of  Daniel  (2)  and  Mary  (Webb)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  January  5,  1735,  in  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  and  died  November 
28,  1807.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  in  1774.  He  married, 
March  17,  1754,  Mary  Bellamy,  who  died 
in  1810. 

(VI)  Daniel  (4)  Lockwood,  second  son 
and  seventh  child  of  Daniel  (3)  and  Mary 
(Bellamy)  Lockwood,  was  born  January 
21,  1769,  in  Stamford,  Connecticut,  where 
he  died  October  8,  1837.  He  married 
(first)  May  9,  1802,  Sally  (Sarah)  Jessup, 
born  October  14,  1779,  in  Greenwich,  died 
September  8,  1829,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
(2)  Jessup,  who  was  born  September  12, 
1734,  in  Greenwich,  and  died  April  22, 
1805.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Ger- 
shom  Lockwood,  and  she  died  April  14, 
1825.  He  was  the  son  of  Jonathan  (1) 
Jessup,  who  was  baptized  August  3,  1707. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  also  was  a  carpen- 
ter. The  Christian  name  of  his  wife  was 
Sarah.  He  was  a  son  of  Edward  (2) 
Jessup,  who  was  born  in  1663,  either  in 
Newtown  or  West  Farms,  New  York,  and 
died  December  28,  1732.  He  was  three 
years  of  age  when  his  father  died.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Harvey)  Hyde,  and  she  died 
October  2,  1747.  He  was  a  son  of  Edward 
(1)  Jessup,  the  immigrant  ancestor  of 
the  Jessup  family  in  America,  who  was  in 
New  England  as  early  as  1649,  m  which 
year  he  was  a  citizen  of  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut. 

(VII)  Solomon  Morgan  Lockwood,  son 
of  Daniel  (4)  and  Sally  (Jessup)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  July  24,  1818,  in  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut.  He  removed  to  New 
Canaan,  Connecticut,  where  the  major 
portion  of  his  life  was  spent.  He  was 
a  farmer.  Mr.  Lockwood  married,  De- 
cember 12,  1850,  Mary  Elizabeth  Ayres, 
born  April,  1827,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Jane   (Chapman)    Ayres.     With  his 


15 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


family,  he  attended  the  Congregational 
church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lockwood  were 
the  parents  of  three  children:  i.  Mary 
Bellamy,  born  December  6,  1851,  now 
deceased.  2.  Caroline  A.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  James  B.  Jenkins;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jenkins  lived  in  Oneida,  New  York, 
and  they  are  now  deceased,  being  sur- 
vived by  a  son,  Harry  Jenkins.  3.  Ed- 
ward Morgan,  of  further  mention. 

(VIII)  Edward  Morgan  Lockwood, 
only  son  and  youngest  child  of  Solomon 
Morgan  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Ay res) 
Lockwood,  was  born  September  20,  1859, 
in  New  Canaan,  Connecticut,  and  baptized 
June  20,  i860.  Mr.  Lockwood  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools,  and  after 
completing  the  courses  there  took  up  the 
study  of  law  under  private  tutors.  In 
this  manner  he  prepared  for  entrance 
to  Columbia  College  Law  School,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1883,  and  in 
June  of  the  same  year  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  New  York  State.  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  New  York  City,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Norwalk,  Connec- 
ticut. There  amidst  the  scenes  and  as- 
sociations of  his  forefathers,  he  began 
his  practice  of  law,  being  admitted  to 
the  Connecticut  bar  in  1885.  For  over 
three  decades  he  has  been  among  the  re- 
spected members  of  the  Fairfield  County 
Bar  Association,  and  through  his  upright- 
ness and  ideals  has  won  for  himself  well 
deserved  honors.  He  served  for  one  term 
as  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  Town 
Court,  and  for  sixteen  years  was  judge 
of  the  Town  and  City  Court,  and  was 
appointed  corporation  counsel  and  city 
clerk,  serving  from  1894  to  1898,  and 
as  corporation  counsel  again  from  191 5 
to  1917;  and  has  held  other  city  offices. 
The  efficient  and  commendable  manner 
in  which  Mr.  Lockwood  discharged  the 
duties  incumbent  on  these  offices  is  suf- 


ficient warrant  of  his  ability.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  actively  in- 
terested in  all  measures  which  tend  to 
better  the  welfare  of  his  town.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Norwalk  Club,  the 
Norwalk  Country  Club,  the  Westport 
Country  Club,  and  the  East  Norwalk 
Yacht  Club. 

Mr.  Lockwood  married,  August  22, 
1886,  in  New  York  City,  Margaret  Flor- 
ence Patterson,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Patterson,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  four  children:  1.  Dorothy  May,  born 
May  5,  1887;  is  now  the  wife  of  Lansing 
D.  Odell,  of  Norwalk,  Connnecticut.  2. 
Alan  Edward,  a  graduate  of  Cornell  Uni- 
versity;  he  enlisted  at  Washington  and 
was  given  rank  of  first  lieutenant  and 
served  in  aviation  in  France ;  in  October, 
191 7,  he  went  overseas  and  remained  in 
active  service  until  May,  1919.  3.  Mary 
Patterson,  died  in  June,  1901,  at  the  age 
of  ten  years.  4.  Edward  Morgan,  Jr., 
born  October  21,  1902.  Mr.  Lockwood 
and  his  family  are  members  and  regular 
attendants  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Norwalk. 


LOCKWOOD,  Charles  Davenport, 

Lawyer,    Legislator. 

Bearing  the  name  of  a  splendid  ances- 
try, Judge  Charles  D.  Lockwood,  of  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  has  reached  a  high 
place  in  life  as  a  citizen  and  man  of  public 
affairs. 

(II)  Lieutenant  Gershom  Lockwood, 
son  of  Robert  and  Susannah  Lockwood 
(q.  v.),  was  born  September  6,  1643,  in 
Watertown,  and  died  March  12,  1718-19, 
in  Greenwich,  Connecticut.  He  was  but 
a  boy  of  nine  when  his  father  removed  to 
Greenwich,  and  fifteen  years  on  the  death 
of  the  latter.  He  was  the  principal  builder 
and  carpenter  of  Greenwich,  a  man  of 
useful  deeds,  of  importance  to  the  com- 


16 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


munity.  He  was  one  of  the  twenty-seven 
proprietors  of  Greenwich.  He  married 
Lady  Ann  Millington,  daughter  of  Lord 
Millington,  of  England.  In  1660  she  re- 
ceived from  her  home  in  England  a  large 
carved  oaken  chest  said  to  contain  one- 
half  bushel  of  guineas  and  many  fine  silk 
dresses.  This  chest  was  in  the  home  of 
Samuel  Ferris  in  Greenwich  in  1888. 

(III)  Gershom  (2)  Lockwood,  son  of 
Lieutenant  Gershom  (1)  and  Ann  (Mil- 
lington) Lockwood,  born  in  Greenwich, 
was  admitted  a  freeman,  February  7, 
1693-94,  and  with  his  brother  William 
built  a  bridge  across  Myanos  river.  His 
wife's  Christian  name  was  Mary,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  Gershom,  of  whom 
further. 

(IV)  Gershom  (3)  Lockwood,  son  of 
Gershom  (2)  and  Mary  Lockwood,  was 
born  in  Greenwich,  in  1708.  He  married 
Mary  Ferris,  born  the  same  year,  died 
February  9,   1796. 

(V)  Gershom  (4)  Lockwood,  son  of 
Gershom  (3)  and  Mary  (Ferris)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  about  1728,  and  died  in 
1798,  of  dropsy,  at  Stanwich,  Connecticut. 
He  married  Eunice  Close,  of  Horse  Neck 
Parish,  Greenwich,  born  about  1728,  died 
1808,  and  was  buried  in  Greenwich. 

(VI)  Joseph  Lockwood,  son  of  Ger- 
shom (4)  and  Eunice  (Close)  Lockwood, 
was  born  November  13,  1769,  and  in  early 
life  lived  on  a  small  farm.  Later  he  went 
to  New  York  City,  and  there  engaged  in 
business  as  a  merchant  tailor  for  some 
years.  He  then  located  in  North  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  and  lived  a  retired  life 
until  his  death.  He  married  Sarah  Alau- 
son,  of  Stanwich,  Connecticut,  and  was 
the  father  of  Gideon  Reed,  of  whom  fur- 
ther. 

(VII)  Gideon  Reed  Lockwood,  son  of 
Joseph  and  Sarah  (Alauson)  Lockwood, 
was  born  in  North  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
February  27,   1793,   died  April   11,   1879. 

Conn— 8— 2 


He  married,  February  25,  1818,  in  Pound- 
ridge,  New  York,  Mary  Ayres,  who  was 
born  there  February  14,  1798,  daughter 
of  Reuben  and  Elizabeth  (Lounsbury) 
Ayres,  who  died  about  1871. 

(VIII)  Henry  Lockwood,  son  of  Gid- 
eon Reed  and  Mary  (Ayres)  Lockwood, 
was  born  March  22,  1843,  in  North  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  where  he  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  and  spent  his 
boyhood  on  a  farm.  He  attended  East- 
man's Business  College,  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York.  In  February,  1866,  he  came  to 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  as  clerk  in  a  hard- 
ware store  owned  by  S.  W.  Scofield,  and 
after  fifteen  years  Mr.  Lockwood  pur- 
chased the  business  of  his  employer,  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1881.  In  1914  the  business  was 
incorporated  as  The  Lockwood  &  Palmer 
Company,  with  Mr.  Lockwood  as  presi- 
dent, a  position  which  he  now  holds  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  The 
present  building  occupied  by  the  corpora- 
tion covers  a  floor  space  of  sixty-six  by 
eighty-five  feet,  and  contains  five  stories. 
Mr.  Lockwood  is  domestic  in  his  tastes, 
and  has  a  ready  ear  for  any  welfare  move- 
ment to  help  the  general  public.  He  has 
given  his  undivided  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness which  accounts  in  a  large  measure 
for  its  wonderful  growth. 

Mr.  Lockwood  married,  April  24,  1872, 
Helen  Maria  Davenport,  born  April  19, 
1 85 1,  daughter  of  George  and  Charlotte 
(Warner)  Davenport,  a  descendant  of 
an  old  and  honorable  family.  (See  Dav- 
enport VII). 

(IX)  Charles  Davenport  Lockwood, 
son  of  Henry  and  Helen  Maria  (Daven- 
port) Lockwood,  was  born  November  11, 
1877,  in  Stamford,  Connecticut.  He  at- 
tended the  public  and  high  schools  there. 
He  graduated  from  Sheffield  Scientific 
School  in  1900  with  the  degree  of  Ph.  B., 
and  from  Yale  Law  School  in  1903  with 
the   degree   of   LL.   B.      While  at   Yale 


17 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


he  was  captain  of  the  university  basket- 
ball team  and  represented  Yale  in  inter- 
collegiate debates  against  Harvard  and 
Princeton.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  the  State  of  Connecticut  in  1903  and  in 
New  York  in  1904,  and  was  assistant 
district  attorney  under  Willam  Travers 
Jerome  from  1903  to  1906  in  New  York 
City.  In  November,  1906,  he  was  elected 
judge  of  probate  in  Stamford,  in  1908  was 
reelected  to  this  office,  and  in  1910  was 
endorsed  by  both  parties.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  in  1913,  he  refused  to  be 
a  candidate  for  reelection.  Judge  Lock- 
wood  formed  a  partnership  with  Homer 
S.  Cummings,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  they  have  a 
large  general  practice,  being  one  of  the 
important  law  firms  in  the  State. 

Many  outside  interests  have  demanded 
the  attention  of  Judge  Lockwood,  and  he 
has  been  called  to  serve  on  a  great  many 
directorates  of  leading  business  and  fi- 
nancial institutions.  He  is  president  and 
a  director  of  The  Citizens'  Savings  Bank 
of  Stamford,  a  trustee  of  the  Stamford 
Children's  Home,  a  director  of  the  First- 
Stamford  National  Bank,  a  director  of  the 
Stamford  Morris  Plan  Bank,  president  of 
the  Shippan  Point  Land  Company,  and 
secretary  of  The  Lockwood  &  Palmer 
Company. 

In  politics  Judge  Lockwood  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  has  taken  more  than  a  passive 
interest  in  that  party.  In  1913  he  was 
representative  from  Stamford  in  the 
Lower  House,  and  was  a  candidate  for 
lieutenant-governor  in  1918.  He  was  an 
able  and  efficient  legislator  and  served 
on  the  committee  on  incorporations.  He 
was  one  of  the  four  delegates-at-large  sent 
from  Connecticut  to  the  Democratic  Na- 
tional Convention  in  St.  Louis  in  1906, 
and  to  the  convention  in  San  Francisco  in 
1920;  was  chairman  of  the  local  Draft 
Board  of  the  City  of  Stamford ;  member 
of  the  Committee  on  State  Protection. 


Judge  Lockwood  married,  October  13, 
1906,  Gertrude  Bell,  daughter  of  Harry 
Bell,  of  Stamford,  and  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  children :  Charles  Daven- 
port, Jr.,  born  December  22,  1907;  Wal- 
ter Bell,  born  February  14,  191 1;  Bar- 
bara Elizabeth,  born  July  3,  1918. 

(The  Davenport  Line). 

(I)  Mrs.  Helen  M.  (Davenport)  Lock- 
wood  descends  from  John  Davenport, 
who  came  to  America  in  1639.  He  was 
admitted  a  freeman  in  New  Haven,  in 
May,  1657,  and  in  1660  removed  to  Boston 
with  his  family,  where  he  was  made  free- 
man the  following  year.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant and  probate  registrar.  He  died 
March  21,  1677.  He  married,  November 
27,  1663,  Abigail  Pierson,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  of  Branford,  and 
sister  of  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  first  rec- 
tor of  Yale  College. 

(II)  Rev.  John  (2)  Davenport,  son  of 
John  (1)  and  Abigail  (Pierson)  Daven- 
port, was  born  in  Boston,  February  22, 
1668,  and  was  baptized  by  his  grandfather 
on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  He  grad- 
uated from  Harvard  in  1687  and  began  to 
preach  in  1690.  Three  years  later  he  came 
to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  and  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  church  there  in  1694. 
He  was  a  member  of  Yale  College  Cor- 
poration from  1707  to  1 73 1.  He  married, 
April  18,  1695,  Mrs.  Martha  (Gould)  Sel- 
leck. 

(III)  John  (3)  Davenport,  son  of  Rev. 
John  (2)  and  Martha  (Gould-Selleck) 
Davenport,  was  born  January  21,  1698,  in 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  and  there  was 
married  by  his  father  to  Sarah  Bishop, 
September  6,  1722.  He  removed  to  Dav- 
enport Ridge,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
twenty-four  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  New  Canaan,  June  20, 
1733.    He  died  November  17,  1742. 

(IV)  John  (4)  Davenport,  son  of  John 
(3)  and  Sarah  (Bishop)  Davenport,  was 


18 


C^^<^<rx/-^( x 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


born  January  15,  1724.  He  united  with 
the  church,  March  7,  1742.  He  married 
Deborah  Amblar,  June  2,  1748,  and  died 
June  23,  1756. 

(V)  Deacon  John  (5)  Davenport,  son 
of  John  (4)  and  Deborah  (Amblar)  Dav- 
enport, was  a  carpenter  and  farmer.  He 
was  an  early  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  was  appointed  deacon, 
May  8,  1796.  He  married  (first)  Pru- 
dence Bell,  daughter  of  Jesse  Bell,  of 
Stamford,  who  died  December  23,  1794. 
He  died  February  5,  1820. 

(VI)  James  Davenport,  son  of  Deacon 
John  (5)  and  Prudence  (Bell)  Davenport, 
was  born  February  2,  1787,  in  Davenport 
Ridge,  and  died  October  27,  1845.  He 
was  a  farmer.  He  married,  February  6, 
1810,  Martha  Warren,  of  Norwalk.  They 
united  with  the  church  in  1815. 

(VII)  George  Davenport,  son  of  James 
and  Martha  (Warren)  Davenport,  was 
born  in  Davenport  Ridge,  March  24, 
1813.  He  married  (second)  March  26, 
1850,  Charlotte  Warner.  They  were  the 
parents  of  Helen  Maria  Davenport,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Henry  Lockwood. 
(See  Lockwood  VIII). 


LOCKWOOD,  William  F.  H., 

Financier. 

William  Fletcher  Hanford  Lockwood, 
of  Greenwich,  is  a  member  of  the  old  and 
distinguished  family  of  Lockwood,  a  rep- 
resentative in  the  eighth  generation. 

(Ill)  Lieut.  Gershom  Lockwood,  son 
of  Jonathan  and  Mary  (Ferris)  Lock- 
wood  (q.  v.),  was  born  1676,  in  Green- 
wich, Connecticut,  and  was  admitted  a 
freeman  there,  February  7,  1697.  In  May, 
1726,  he  was  deputy  of  the  Colonial  As- 
sembly of  Connecticut.  He  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  May,  1726-27-28,  and 
was  deputy  in  1747-50.  He  married  Han- 
nah   . 


(IV)  Nathan  Lockwood,  son  of  Lieu- 
tenant Gershom  and  Hannah  Lockwood, 
was  born  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  July 
28,1704.    He  married  Sarah about 

1740,  and  died  July  28,  1761.  He  made  a 
will  June  11,  1761,  which  was  probated 
August  4,  1 761. 

(V)  Thaddeus  Lockwood,  son  of  Na- 
than and  Sarah  ( )  Lockwood,  was 

born    in    Greenwich,    Connecticut,    about 

1741,  and  died  in  1814.  He  married  and 
had  a  large  family. 

(VI)  Ira  Lockwood,  son  of  Thaddeus 
Lockwood,  was  born  October  17,  1769,  in 
Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  died  April 
19,  1846,  on  the  homestead  where  he  first 
saw  the  light.  He  was  a  very  successful 
farmer  and  although  starting  in  life  with 
small  resources  became  a  man  of  wealth, 
due  to  his  own  initiative  and  persever- 
ance. He  was  a  Whig  in  politics.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  a  constable.  He 
married  Clementine  Mills,  February  14, 
1794  (born  December  19,  1770).  During 
the  early  part  of  their  married  life  they 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  but 
later  were  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  Their  children  were  :  Alva,  born 
May  14,  1795,  died  October  15,  1825;  Ly- 
dia,  born  June  16,  1797,  married  Isaac 
Ostrander,  May  14,  1814;  she  died  May 
13,  1857;  Ira,  Jr.,  born  January  25,  1800, 
and  died  April  11,  1825  ;  Ralph,  born  April 
16,  1804,  and  died  unmarried,  October  20, 
1866 ;  and  Hanford,  of  further  mention. 

(VII)  Hanford  Lockwood,  son  of  Ira 
and  Clementine  (Mills)  Lockwood,  was 
born  June  7,  1808,  in  Greenwich,  Connec- 
ticut, and  died  January  27,  1896.  He  was 
one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  day  in  his 
community,  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He 
was  born  on  the  farm  where  his  father 
and  grandfather  were  born  and  lived  their 
lives.  In  his  childhood  days,  during  the 
summer,  he  was  accustomed  to  help  his 


19 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


father  in  the  work  about  the  farm,  and  in 
the  winter  attended  the  district  schools. 
He  had  a  great  desire  to  acquire  a  broader 
education  than  the  district  schools  af- 
forded, and  at  the  age  of  about  fourteen 
opportunity  made  it  possible  for  him  to 
attend  the  Union  Hall  Academy  in  New 
York  City.  His  son,  William  F.  H.  Lock- 
wood,  has  a  map  in  his  home  in  Green- 
wich, Connecticut,  which  his  father  drew 
while  attending  Union  Hall  Academy, 
covering  the  United  States.  At  that  time 
the  Mississippi  river  was  the  Western 
border.  The  map  is  dated  1823.  Natu- 
rally, Mr.  Lockwood  greatly  prizes  this 
old  map  made  by  his  father.  Hanford's 
first  position  was  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store  in  New  York  City,  in  the  employ  of 
William  J.  Romer ;  his  wages  were  five 
dollars  a  month.  At  the  end  of  the  first 
year  he  had  saved  thirty  dollars,  be- 
sides clothing  himself,  and  here  were 
first  shown  the  traits  of  business  acumen 
which  later  developed.  Because  of  sick- 
ness in  the  family  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn home,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  returned  again 
to  New  York  City,  and  entered  the  store 
of  his  sister's  husband,  Isaac  Ostrander, 
and  for  the  first  year  he  received  eight 
dollars  a  month  and  for  the  second  twelve., 
and  at  the  end  of  the  third  year  fifteen 
dollars  a  month. 

After  he  had  become  of  age,  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  secured  a  position  teaching  school 
in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  "boarded 
round"  among  the  parents  of  the  children 
of  the  district,  as  was  the  custom  at  that 
time.  The  highest  pay  he  received  as 
teacher  was  fifteen  dollars  a  month.  His 
genial  disposition  and  pleasant  manner 
soon  endeared  him  to  all  and  he  made 
many  lasting  friends.  The  second  year  of 
his  teaching  school  he  was  engaged  in 
what  was  known  as  the  "Nash  District." 
During  this  time  he   made  the  acquain- 


ance  of  Susan,  daughter  of  James  Nash, 
the  man  who  engaged  him  to  teach  the 
school.  She  was  born  July  14,  1812.  On 
October  6,  1830,  they  were  married,  and 
she  died  October  27,  1869,  without  issue. 

In  the  month  of  April,  183 1,  Hanford 
Lockwood  commenced  business  as  a  gro- 
cer, locating  at  No.  90  Roosevelt  street, 
New  York  City.  He  continued  in  that 
line  of  business  for  twenty-four  years, 
when  he  retired  and  returned  to  his  na- 
tive town,  where  he  resided  on  the  old 
homestead  of  his  birth  until  February, 
1878,  when  he  moved  to  his  large  estate 
in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  known  as 
"Grand  View."  During  his  residence  in 
New  York  City  he  made  investments  in 
real  estate  which  greatly  increased  in 
value  during  his  ownership.  His  real  es- 
tate activities  extended  to  various  parts 
of  the  country.  For  many  years  he  was 
largely  interested  in  the  New  York  stock 
market,  where  he  also  met  with  success. 
Mr.  Lockwood  showed  keen  business 
ability  in  every  line  of  his  undertakings. 
He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Green- 
wich Trust,  Loan  &  Deposit  Company, 
which  he  established  in  1887,  and  re- 
mained its  president  until  he  reached  his 
eighty-second  year,  when  feeling  that  he 
wished  to  be  relieved  of  so  great  a  re- 
sponsibility at  his  time  of  life,  he  resigned. 
The  bank  is  now  known  as  The  Green- 
wich Trust  Company. 

During  the  greater  part  of  his  life  he 
was  actively  interested  in  church  work, 
and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  most 
influential  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  his  native  town.  He 
contributed  his  happiness  and  success  to 
his  religious  principles. 

Mr.  Lockwood  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Fanny  (Roscoe)  Lounsbury,  widow 
of  Samuel  D.  F.  Lounsbury,  and  daughter 
of  William  and  Anna  (Browne)  Roscoe, 
on  January  31,  1872.     She  was  born  July 


20 


s% 


c^y~?s-&^ 


yf^/ ^Jo^^uXtr-iTl 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


20,  1831,  and  died  on  Saturday,  March  5, 
1921,  at  her  home  in  Greenwich.  They 
had  one  son,  William  Fletcher  Hanford, 
the  subject  of  this  review. 

(VIII)  William  Fletcher  Hanford  Lock- 
wood,  son  of  Hanford  and  Fanny  (Ros- 
coe-Lounsbury)  Lockwood,  was  born  in 
Greenwich,  Connecticut,  May  22,  1875, 
on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  and 
grandfather.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Greenwich  Academy  and  at  the  Borden- 
town  Military  Institute,  at  Bordentown, 
New  Jersey,  and  the  Centenary  Collegiate 
Institute  at  Hackettstown,  New  Jersey, 
and  the  Berkeley  Institute  at  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts. After  completing  his  educa- 
tion, his  time  was  entirely  devoted  to 
the  care  of  his  personal  and  financial  af- 
fairs. He  is  interested  in  real  estate  and 
the  New  York  stock  market,  and  has  been 
very  successful  in  his  undertakings.  On 
December  27,  1897,  Mr.  Lockwood  was 
elected  a  director  of  the  Greenwich  Trust 
Company,  an  office  he  held  for  about 
eighteen  years.  On  December  18,  1895, 
he  married  Daisy  Lucille  Jackson.  She 
was  born  August  28,  1875,  at  Millbrook, 
New  York,  the  daughter  of  John  A.  and 
Mary  Frances  (Morse)  Jackson.  They  are 
the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Clementine 
Elizabeth  Lockwood,  born  in  Greenwich, 
Connecticut,  June  3,  1903.  She  is  now 
attending  the  Bennett  School  at  Mill- 
brook,  New  York.  She  inherits  much  of 
ability  and  intellect  due  her  from  a  long 
line  of  prominent,  intellectual  and  influen- 
tial ancestors. 

An  extensive  genealogy  of  the  Lock- 
wood  family  was  published  in  1889,  com- 
piled by  Frederick  A.  Holden  and  E.  Dun- 
bar Lockwood,  and  it  shows  over  four 
thousand  descendants  of  Robert  Lock- 
wood  who  came  to  this  country  in  1630. 
It  also  shows  that  one  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  of  them  served  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution    and    earlier    wars    with    the 


French  and  Indians,  giving  the  rank  of 
service  from  private  to  that  of  brigadier- 
general.  From  these  descendants  have 
come  men  who  have  held  honorable  places, 
not  only  on  the  roll  of  fame  in  military 
lines,  but  whose  genius,  tact,  intelligence 
and  learning  have  given  them  places  hon- 
orable and  high  in  the  professional  and 
business  world. 

(The  Koscoe  Line). 

William  Roscoe  was  born  August  11, 
1806,  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  died 
June  25,  1875.  He  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation and  learned  the  trade  of  carriage 
builder.  In  this  line  of  business  he  was 
active  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He 
was  the  son  of  Abraham  Roscoe,  who 
was  born  in  1778,  died  in  1833,  and  who 
married  Fanny  Gruman,  born  in  1781  and 
died  in  February,  1821. 

William  Roscoe  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Port  Chester,  New  York,  for  many  years 
and  until  the  time  of  his  death.  On  Sep- 
tember 2,  1830,  he  married  Anna  Browne, 
of  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  born  July  14, 
1812,  died  May  8,  1883,  in  Greenwich. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Browne, 
an  Englishman,  and  his  wife,  Hannah. 
Their  children  were :  Fanny,  born  July 
20,  1 83 1,  died  March  5,  192 1  ;  she  mar- 
ried Hanford  Lockwood  (see  Lockwood 
VII)  ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  December 
25,  1832,  died  January  13,  1915  ;  Julia  Ann, 
born  May  12,  1834,  died  February  22, 
1910;  William  Bradley,  born  July  17, 
1837,  died  December  21,  1839;  Hanna 
Augusta,  born  December  4,  1840,  died 
June  14,  1914. 


LOCKWOOD,  George  Francis, 
Man  of  Affairs. 

The  career  of  George  F.  Lockwood, 
president  of  the  New  Canaan  National 
Bank,  is  one  well  worthy  of  emulation  by 


21 


ENCYCLOPEDIA   OF  BIOGRAPHY 


the  youth  of  the  present  day.  Industry, 
thrift  and  perseverance  has  marked  his 
way  through  life,  and  to  these  qualities 
he  added  business  ability  of  a  high  order 
and  an  honesty  of  purpose  that  has 
brought  success  to  his  well-directed  ef- 
forts. His  name  is  known  in  business 
and  financial  circles  as  that  of  a  man  who 
can  be  trusted,  and  with  whom  it  is  a 
satisfaction  to  transact  business.  He  is 
a  descendant  of  the  well  known  Lock- 
wood  family. 

(IV)  Edmund  Lockwood.  son  of  Dan- 
iel and  Charity  (Clements)  Lockwood 
(q.  v.),  was  born  November  n,  1717,  and 
died  September  12,  1798.  He  married 
(first)  April  26,  1742,  Hannah  Scofield, 
of  Stamford,  and  she  died  September  4, 
1760. 

(V)  Ezra  Lockwood,  son  of  Edmund 
and  Hannah  (Scofield)  Lockwood,  was 
born  May  30,  1747,  in  Stamford,  Connec- 
ticut, and  died  March  8,  1821.  He  en- 
listed in  April,  1775,  in  Captain  Joseph 
Hoit's  company  and  went  to  the  defense 
of  New  York,  serving  eight  days.  Ezra 
Lockwood  married  (second)  Ann  Davis, 
and  she  died  June  22,  1822. 

(VI)  Dr.  Samuel  Lockwood,  son  of 
Ezra  and  Ann  (Davis)  Lockwood,  was 
born  in  Watertown,  Connecticut,  July  21, 
1787,  and  died  in  Stamford.  March  10, 
1859.  The  Lockwood  family  were  pio- 
neers in  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  Wa- 
tertown. Connecticut,  and  Watertown, 
New  York.  Samuel  Lockwood  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Elton  and  graduated 
from  the  New  York  Medical  College.  He 
opened  an  office  in  Stamford  and  rapidly 
gained  prominence  as  a  physician,  being 
highly  esteemed  among  the  townspeople. 
Dr.  Lockwood  was  especially  loved  by 
the  children  and  in  1838,  upon  his  retire- 
ment from  practice,  he  bought  a  farm 
near  the  site  of  the  present  Stamford  Hos- 
pital, where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 


his  life  in  quiet  rest.  He  married  (first) 
January  14,  1820,  Helen  Sheddon,  born  in 
1792  at  Falkirk,  Scotland,  daughter  of 
John  and  Helen  (Hodge)  Sheddon. 

(VII)  John  Davis  Lockwood,  son  of 
Dr.  Samuel  Lockwood  and  his  first  wife, 
Helen  (Sheddon)  Lockwood,  was  born  in 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  March  14,  1823, 
and  died  in  September,  1857.  His  educa- 
tional opportunities  were  limited,  but  he 
made  the  most  of  those  at  hand.  He  did 
not  care  for  farm  life,  and  soon  after 
reaching  manhood  went  to  New  York 
City  and  there  entered  the  Hecker  Com- 
pany flour  mill.  He  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  Brooklyn  mill,  which  burned  down, 
and  Mr.  Lockwood  then  returned  to  a 
place  near  to  the  old  home,  where  his 
death  occurred.  Mr.  Lockwood  married 
Jeanette  Gray,  daughter  of  Holly  Gray; 
she  died  in  1877.  They  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Antoinette  H., 
married  George  E.  Whitney,  and  is  now 
deceased ;  had  one  son,  Edward  P.  Whit- 
ney, of  New  York ;  Helen  S.,  George 
Francis,  of  whom  further ;  Emily  J.,  Rob- 
ert D.,  Amelia  H. 

(VIII)  George  Francis  Lockwood,  son 
of  John  Davis  and  Jeanette  (Gray)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  November  17,  1849,  on 
Hubbard's  Hill,  Stamford,  Connecticut. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  Professor  Glendenning's  Academy. 
When  he  was  fourteen  years  old  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Stamford  Bank, 
where  he  remained  for  five  years,  and  then 
went  to  New  York  City  as  cashier  in  the 
office  of  James  McCreary  &  Company. 
His  health  became  impaired,  and  he  spent 
a  year  recuperating  at  New  Milford.  Con- 
necticut. Subsequently,  he  went  to  St. 
Paul.  Minnesota,  in  the  year  1869,  and 
his  chief  employment  there  was  with 
General  Owen?,  who  had  charge  of  an 
expedition  serving  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad.       Mr.     Lockwood     was     on     a 


22 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


branch  of  it  that  went  to  Partridge  River 
from  St.  Cloud.  He  was  there  about  two 
years,  and  then  returned  East  and  trav- 
eled a  season  with  G.  F.  Bailey,  who 
was  in  the  early  days  of  his  career  a  cir- 
cus man.  When  Mr.  Bailey  combined 
with  P.  T.  Barnum,  Mr.  Lockwood  was 
offered  the  treasurership  of  the  combined 
shows,  but  declined  the  offer.  Returning 
to  New  Canaan,  he  became  identified  as 
bookkeeper  and  teller  with  the  bank  of 
which  he  is  now  chief  executive.  For  ten 
years  he  remained  in  this  position,  and 
then  for  a  second  time  went  West,  spend- 
ing a  winter  in  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota.  Upon  his  return  to  New  Can- 
aan, Connecticut,  he  went  into  the  shoe 
business  of  Benedict  &  Company,  manu- 
facturers, as  a  member  of  the  firm.  For 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  continued 
in  this  business,  being  at  the  head  of  it 
most  of  this  time,  until  at  length  the  bus- 
iness was  given  up. 

During  all  these  intervening  years,  Mr. 
Lockwood  had  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  New  Canaan 
National  Bank,  and  in  1908  was  elected 
president  of  the  institution,  which  office 
he  now  holds.  The  father  of  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  his 
mother's  family  were  Democrats.  He 
grew  up  in  the  latter  political  faith,  but 
has  always  been  an  Independent  in  polit- 
ical action.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
served  as  town  treasurer ;  was  warden  of 
the  borough  for  two  years,  and  during  his 
term  the  borough  saved  money,  a  unique 
experience  in  its  financial  history.  Mr. 
Lockwood  has  been  identified  for  many 
years  with  the  different  village  improve- 
ment societies  and  the  Village  Club  to 
improve  young  men ;  in  short,  he  is  to  be 
found  identified  with  any  of  the  welfare 
movements  for  the  general  good. 

Mr.  Lockwood  married,  December  12, 
1878,  Emma  N.  Benedict,  born  November 


J5.  I853,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Sarah 
E.  (Dann)  Benedict,  the  well  known  shoe 
manufacturer  of  New  Canaan.  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  and  his  wife  attend  St.  Mark's 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  has  been 
warden  for  twenty-five  years. 


LOCKWOOD,  Luke  Vincent, 

Lawyer,  Public  Official. 

The  name  of  Lockwood  is  one  of  the 
most  ancient  surnames  found  on  English 
records,  and  it  is  worthily  represented  in 
the  present  generation  by  Luke  Vincent 
Lockwood,  of  New  York  City. 

(VI)  Frederick  (2)  Lockwood,  son  of 
Frederick  (1)  and  Deborah  (Reynolds) 
Lockwood  (q.  v.),  was  born  February 
4,  1788.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Jessup, 
daughter  of  Gershom  and  Rhoda  (Knapp) 
Jessup.  They  were  the  parents  of  Luke 
Adolphus,  of  further  mention. 

(VII)  Luke  Adolphus  Lockwood,  son 
of  Frederick  (2)  and  Mary  Ann  (Jessup) 
Lockwood,  was  born  in  Riverside,  town 
of  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  December  1, 
1833,  and  until  fourteen  years  of  age  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  that  town. 
He  prepared  for  college  at  Greenwich 
Academy  and  entered  Trinity  College  in 
185 1,  graduating  in  1855  as  valedictorian 
of  his  class.  In  1888  Mr.  Lockwood  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  A.,  and  was  for 
three  years  chosen  by  the  Alumni  an  elec- 
tive trustee,  and  in  1890  was  elected 
trustee  for  life.  His  alma  mater  also  con- 
ferred on  him  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  After 
his  graduation,  Mr.  Lockwood  read  law 
in  a  New  York  office  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  that  State  in  1856,  and  sub- 
sequently was  admitted  to  the  Connec- 
ticut bar,  although  his  practice  was 
Avholly  in  New  York  City.  In  his  earlier 
years  of  practice,  Mr.  Lockwood  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Lockwood  & 
Lewis,    and    after   an    interval    of   many 


23 


C  90.0-074& 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


years  alone  he  formed  another  partner- 
ship under  the  name  of  Lockwood  &  Hill. 
While  for  some  years  he  resided  in 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  in  the  winters,  he 
always  retained  the  ancestral  estate  in  the 
town  of  Greenwich,  which  has  been  in 
the  family  since  the  original  grant  in 
1642. 

In  1875  Mr.  Lockwood  started  a  mis- 
sion chapel  at  Riverside  known  as  St. 
Paul's  and  laid  the  cornerstone  the  fol- 
lowing year.  For  eleven  years  thereafter 
he  conducted  the  Sunday  school  and  eve- 
ning service,  and  for  years  held  the  office 
of  senior  warden.  He  held  a  license  to 
preach  and  enjoyed  an  intimate  friend- 
ship with  the  late  Bishop  Williams. 

He  was  made  a  Mason  in  1856,  in 
Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  Stamford,  Connec- 
ticut. At  the  organization  of  Acacia 
Lodge,  No.  85,  in  Greenwich,  in  1858,  he 
was  a  charter  member  and  served  as  its 
first  worshipful  master,  continuing  in  the 
office  for  ten  years  thereafter,  and  after  an 
interval  serving  again  for  two  years.  In 
1858  he  was  exalted  a  Royal  Arch  Mason 
in  Rittenhouse  Chapter,  No.  11,  Stamford, 
and  served  as  high  priest  in  1864  and 
1865.  On  May  9,  1872,  he  was  elected 
grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  of  Con- 
necticut, from  the  floor,  a  very  rare  oc- 
currence, the  only  other  instance  up  to 
that  time  being  in  1816,  when  Oliver  Wol- 
cott,  who  the  same  year  had  been  elected 
Governor  of  the  State,  was  elected  from 
the  floor.  Mr.  Lockwood  filled  the  office 
for  two  years  and  his  administration  was 
characterized  by  a  careful  and  intelligent 
direction  of  the  affairs  of  the  craft, 
marked  with  progress  and  prosperity. 
His  annual  address,  delivered  before  the 
Grand  Lodge  in  1873,  is  distinguished  not 
alone  for  ability  and  intelligence  man- 
ifested but  for  the  inception  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Charity  Foundation  of  Connecticut, 
which  was  later  chartered  by  the  State. 


He  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the 
home  at  Wallingford,  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  managers  and  became 
its  first  president.  On  May  9,  1865,  he 
was  elcted  grand  high  priest  of  the  Grand 
Chapter  and  was  reelected  in  1866.  His 
administration  was  distinguished  for 
ability  and  a  high  moral  tone,  leaving  the 
impress  of  a  master's  hand,  more  endur- 
ing than  marble,  upon  every  page  of  its 
history.  During  almost  the  entire  con- 
nection of  Mr.  Lockwood  with  these  bod- 
ies, he  was  honored  as  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  jurisprudence,  and  his  legal 
mind  wrought  order  out  of  chaos,  fur- 
nishing for  the  government  of  the  craft 
a  system  of  masonic  law  unexcelled  by 
that  of  any  jurisdiction.  He  wrote  "Lock- 
wood's  Masonic  Law  and  Practice,"  a  most 
valuable  book  of  jurisprudence,  which 
has  been  adopted  by  the  Grand  Bod- 
ies of  Connecticut,  and  is  recognized  as 
a  standard  work  throughout  the  country. 
Of  Mr.  Lockwood,  it  was  said  by  a  fel- 
low craftsman : 

To  Freemasonry  in  Connecticut,  he  has  been  a 
tower  of  strength — a  Father  in  Israel — and  his  in- 
fluence has  been  the  means,  to  a  great  extent, 
of  laying  the  foundations  of  the  order  in  Con- 
necticut on  a  broad,  deep  and  enduring  basis.  As 
a  student  of  the  philosophy  and  symbolism  of 
freemasonry,  he  is  not  excelled,  and  as  a  teacher 
of  its  grand  and  uplifting  precepts,  he  has  few 
equals,  being  himself  controlled  by  the  highest 
principles  of  morality,  and  virtue  that  underlie 
its  teachings,  and  which  are  wrought  out  in  his 
daily  life.  He  has  delivered  many  masonic  ad- 
dresses and  written  numerous  articles  on  the 
subject  of  Freemasonry. 

Mr.  Lockwood  married,  September  11, 
1862,  Mary  -Louise  Lyon,  daughter  of 
Captain  James  and  Catherine  (Mead) 
Lyon.  She  was  born  in  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut, March  10,  1841.  Her  father, 
Captain  James  Lyon,  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Greenwich.  He 
sailed    regularly    between    America    and 


24 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Liverpool.  At  one  time  he  owned  the 
"Fairfield,"  and  at  another  time  the 
''Oceanic. "  At  the  time  he  became  mas- 
ter of  a  vessel,  Mr.  Lyon  was  only  about 
twenty-two  years  of  age ;  he  retired  from 
the  sea  early  in  life,  having  acquired  quite 
a  competence.  He  was  interested  in  the 
New  York,  New  Haven  &  Hartford  Rail- 
road at  the  time  it  was  organized,  being 
one  of  the  directors.  His  home  was  the 
large  house  with  the  cupola  on  the  post 
road  in  Greenwich,  next  to  the  hotel 
known  now  as  "The  Maples."  The  chil- 
dren of  Luke  A.  and  Mary  Louise  (Lyon) 
Lockwood  were :  Theodora  Lyon,  born 
January  12,  1868;  Gertrude  Louise,  born 
October  29,  1869;  Luke  Vincent,  of  fur- 
ther mention ;  William  Frederic,  who 
died  young. 

(VIII)  Luke  Vincent  Lockwood,  eld- 
est son  of  Luke  Adolphus  and  Mary 
Louise  (Lyon)  Lockwood,  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  February  1,  1872. 
He  prepared  for  college  at  King's  School 
in  Stamford,  and  was  graduated  from 
Trinity  College  in  1893  with  the  degree 
of  A.  B.  He  then  entered  the  New  York 
Law  School,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1895  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B., 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  the  same 
year  in  New  York  City.  In  1895  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  A.  from  Trinity 
College.  About  191 1  Mr.  Lockwood  was 
admitted  to  the  Connecticut  bar.  The 
same  year  in  which  he  graduated  also 
marked  the  beginning  of  his  association 
with  the  firm  of  Lockwood  &  Hill,  and 
in  1901  he  was  admitted  to  partnership. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  the  firm 
name  was  changed  to  Hill,  Lockwood, 
Redfield  &  Lydon.  Mr.  Lockwood  makes 
a  specialty  of  corporate  and  estate  work. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Lockwood  holds  inde- 
pendent views ;  he  is  chairman  of  the 
Highway  Commission  in  Greenwich,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Estimate  and 


Taxation.  His  interests  are  not  solely 
confined  to  his  legal  work ;  he  has  an 
active  share  in  the  executive  manage- 
ment of  several  industrial  and  financial 
institutions.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Greenwich  Trust  Company ;  president  of 
the  News  &  Graphic ;  president  of  the 
Greenwich  Hospital ;  president  of  the 
Beaumont  Glass  Company  of  Morgan- 
town,  West  Virginia  ;  director  of  the  Nor- 
folk Southern  Railroad ;  director  of  the 
Thatcher  Furnace  Company ;  director  of 
Flint  &  Horner  Company,  of  New  York; 
director  of  the  Commercial  Acetylene  & 
Supply  Company,  and  of  several  other 
corporations. 

Mr.  Lockwood's  hobby  is  antiquarian- 
ism,  and  he  has  written  a  number  of 
books  on  the  subject  which  are  recog- 
nized as  standard  authority.  Among 
them  are :  "Colonial  Furniture  in  Amer- 
ica," "Pendleton  Collection,"  "A  Collec- 
tion of  English  Furniture  of  the  Seven- 
teenth and  Eighteenth  Centuries,"  "Fur- 
niture Collection  Glossary,"  "Articles  on 
Colonial  Silver." 

At  the  time  of  the  Hudson-Fulton  Cel- 
ebration, Mr.  Lockwood  gave  valuable 
assistance  to  the  Metropolitan  Museum 
in  making  up  their  exhibitions ;  he  has 
personally  one  of  the  largest  private  col- 
lections of  American  furniture  and  Amer- 
ican silver  and  needle  work  and  textiles 
in  the  country.  Mr.  Lockwood  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Municipal  Art  Commission  of 
New  York ;  a  trustee  of  the  Brooklyn  In- 
stitute of  Arts  and  Sciences ;  an  honor- 
ary fellow  of  the  Metropolitan  Museum 
of  Art ;  a  life  member  of  the  National 
Arts  Club  of  New  York.  Socially,  Mr. 
Lockwood  is  a  member  of  the  Field  Club ; 
the  Riverside  Marine  and  Field  Club,  of 
Greenwich ;  the  Century  and  University 
clubs  of  New  York ;  the  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury and  Rembrandt  clubs  of  Brooklyn ; 
he  is  an  executive  member  of  the  Wal- 


25 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


pole  Society,  member  of  the  Society  of 
Colonial  Wars,  and  of  the  fraternities, 
Alpha  Delta  Phi  and  Phi  Beta  Kappa. 
Through  the  entire  war  he  served  as 
chairman  of  Local  Board,  No.  15,  Fair- 
field county,  Connecticut. 

On  November  16,  1897,  Mr.  Lockwood 
married  Alice  Gardner  Burnell,  daughter 
of  Calvin  J.  Burnell,  of  Hartford.  They 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Luke  Bur- 
nell, born  1901,  and  Jane,  born  1904. 


LOCKWOOD,  Capt.  Nelson  Uriah, 

Man  of  Varied  Activities. 

High  on  the  list  of  Stamford's  citizens 
stands  the  name  of  Captain  Lockwood. 
In  his  early  manhood  Captain  Lockwood 
was  actively  identified  with  the  oyster 
business,  and  later  devoted  some  years  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  Since  becoming  a 
resident  of  Stamford  he  has  taken  a  help- 
ful and  public-spirited  interest  in  all  that 
makes  for  the  truest  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity. 

(VIII)  Nelson  Uriah  Lockwood  was 
born  October  14,  185 1,  in  Greenwich,  and 
is  a  son  of  Captain  Henry  Smith  and 
Sarah  Elizabeth  (White)  Lockwood  (q. 
v.),  and  a  brother  of  Captain  Elbert  F. 
Lockwood,  who  is  represented  in  this 
work  by  a  biography  which  follows. 

The  education  of  Captain  Lockwood 
was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of 
Greenwich  and  at  the  old  Greenwich 
Academy.  After  completing  his  course 
of  study  he  served  for  about  a  year  as 
clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store,  and  was  then 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  latter's 
oyster  business.  Thenceforth  he  "fol- 
lowed the  water"  for  a  number  of  years, 
becoming  a  captain  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years.  About  1884  Captain  Lock- 
wood  was  compelled  by  impaired  health 
to  abandon  a  seafaring  life.  He  had  then 
been    for    some    vear    associated    in    the 


oyster  business  with  his  brother,  Cap- 
tain Elbert  F.  Lockwood,  and  on  with- 
drawing from  that  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming,  purchasing  some  land 
in  Greenwich.  At  the  same  time  he  con- 
ducted a  small  wholesale  and  retail  oys- 
ter business  on  his  own  account.  In  191 1 
he  sold  the  farm  and  moved  to  Stamford, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

On  moving  to  Stamford,  Captain  Lock- 
wood  withdrew  from  active  business  life. 
He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  Greenwich  Farmers'  Club,  and  for 
three  years  served  as  its  vice-president. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  church  of  Stamford,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  deacon,  and  he  is 
also  a  teacher  in  the  young  men's  class  of 
the  Sunday  school.  While  a  resident  of 
Stanwich,  in  the  town  of  Greenwich,  he 
served  as  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
church  and  also  as  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school.  Captain  Lockwood  is  in- 
terested in  work  among  the  younger  gen- 
eration, and  for  several  years  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  religious  work  committee  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 
He  is  active  in  the  Boy  Scout  movement, 
a  member  of  Stamford  Council  of  Boy 
Scouts,  and  one  of  the  committee  of 
Troop  No.  2.  Captain  Lockwood  has 
chosen  well  those  things  to  which  he 
gives  his  aid  and  support,  for  in  the  suc- 
cess and  perpetuation  of  such  organiza- 
tions, aiming  toward  the  welfare  of  the 
men  of  to-morrow,  is  the  hope  of  Amer- 
ican institutions  and  ideals. 

Captain  Lockwood  married,  June  8, 
1875,  Adeline,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wood- 
hull  and  Sarah  Louisa  Hopkins,  grand- 
daughter of  General  Gilbert  Hopkins. 
The  name  of  Hopkins  occupies  distin- 
guished position  throughout  New  Eng- 
land's history.  General  Gilbert  Hopkins 
was  for  many  years  a  major-general  of 
New  York  Militia,  and  was  grand  mar- 


26 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


shal  of  the  military  services  held  in  New 
York  City  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of 
General  Lafayette,  also  acting  as  grand 
marshal  of  the  parade  held  in  celebration 
of  the  bringing  of  Croton  water  into  New 
York  City.  He  was  a  man  of  importance 
and  distinction  of  his  day,  and  filled  hon- 
orable place  in  military  and  private  life. 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Lockwood  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  daughters:  Grace,  married 
Lewis  Mead  Close,  of  Stamford ;  and 
Sarah  May,  wife  of  William  D.  Rich,  of 
Woodbury,  Connecticut,  and  mother  of 
two  children:  William  Nelson,  born 
March  24,  1905 ;  and  Elberta  Grace,  born 
September  8,  1908. 

The  career  of  Captain  Lockwood  has 
been  singularly  well-rounded.  He  has 
touched  life  at  many  points,  moving  in 
different  spheres  of  action  and  gaining 
varied  experiences.  After  years  spent  in 
the  activities  of  a  seafaring  life,  and  in 
those  of  a  business  man  and  farmer,  he 
is  now,  in  his  retirement,  doing  all  in  his 
power  to  further  the  best  interests  of  his 
community  and  lending  his  influence  and 
aid  to  those  movements  and  institutions 
which  in  his  judgment  bring  enlighten- 
ment and  encourage  loyalty  to  higher 
standards  of  living. 


LOCKWOOD,  Capt.  Elbert  F., 

Business  Man,  Public  Official. 

As  president  of  The  Sea  Coast  Oyster 
Company,  Captain  Lockwood  is  a  figure 
of  prominence  in  the  business  world,  his 
position  being  rendered  more  command- 
ing by  his  office  of  shell  fish  commis- 
sioner, to  which  he  had  been  recently 
reappointed  after  having  held  it  for  sev- 
eral years.  Notwithstanding  his  exten- 
sive business  connections  and  their  heavy 
responsibilities,  Captain  Lockwood  is 
always  faithful  to  the  duties  of  citizenship 


and  has  never  been  found  lacking  in  a 
laudable  degree  of  public  spirit. 

(VIII)  Captain  Elbert  F.  Lockwood, 
son  of  Captain  Henry  Smith  and  Sarah 
Elizabeth  (White)  Lockwood  (q.  v.),  was 
born  October  16,  1853,  in  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut. He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  and 
at  the  Greenwich  Academy.  Then,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen,  he  became  associated 
with  his  father  and  brother,  Nelson  U., 
in  the  oyster  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  H.  S.  Lockwood  &  Sons.  During 
the  following  three  years  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  running  of  the  boat  and  then, 
on  reaching  his  twentieth  year,  was  given 
charge  of  it.  On  attaining  his  majority 
he  took  out  his  master's  license  and  sailed 
until  1882,  when  the  firm  built  a  steamer, 
the  first  ever  used  in  the  oyster  business 
in  Connecticut.  About  a  year  after  they 
sold  the  boat  to  H.  C.  Rowe,  of  New 
Haven.  Captain  Lockwood  and  his 
brother  took  over  the  business  from  their 
father,  who  retired  to  the  enjoyment  of  a 
period  of  well-earned  leisure,  and  the  firm 
name  was  changed  to  Lockwood  Broth- 
ers. After  a  time  Captain  Lockwood  pur- 
chased his  brother's  interest  and  carried 
on  the  business  under  his  own  name, 
Elbert  F.  Lockwood.  On  becoming  sole 
owner  of  the  concern  he  began  buying 
land  for  oyster  beds,  and  conducted  his 
business  transactions  by  wholesale  and 
on  a  very  extensive  scale.  After  the  lapse 
of  a  few  years,  Captain  Lockwood  and 
Alden  Solomon,  of  South  Norwalk,  com- 
bined their  oyster  interests  under  the 
name  of  the  Standard  Oyster  Company, 
Mr.  Solomon  holding  the  office  of  presi- 
dent and  Captain  Lockwood  that  of  vice- 
president,  combining  with  it  the  duties 
of  treasurer.  A  few  years  later  they  sold 
out  and  Captain  Lockwood  retired  from 
business. 


27 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


It  is  not  easy,  however,  for  a  man  of 
Captain  Lockwood's  mental  and  physical 
vigor  to  remain  for  a  long  time  without 
a  definite  occupation,  and  at  the  end  of 
ten  years  he  reentered  the  business  arena, 
signalizing  the  event  by  the  purchase  of 
the  Andrew  Radell  oyster  plant  at  Rock- 
away,  Long  Island.  Later  he  bought 
sixty  acres  at  Mattituck,  Long  Island,  and 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  at  Port  Jef- 
ferson, the  property  of  the  Sewasset 
Oyster  Company.  Still  later  he  became 
by  purchase  the  owner  of  the  Seal-shipped 
Oyster  Company  at  Cape  Cod,  Massa- 
chusetts, taking  as  an  associate  Frank 
W.  Rowley,  of  New  Haven.  The  busi- 
ness was  conducted  under  the  name  of 
The  Cape  Cod  Oyster  Farms  Company, 
with  headquarters  at  Wellfleet,  Massachu- 
setts. On  July  i,  1919,  Captain  Lockwood 
bought  out  the  firm  of  Smith  Brothers, 
of  New  Haven,  adding  to  this  the  pur- 
chase of  the  interests  of  the  F.  G.  Lane 
Company,  of  the  same  city,  whose  oyster 
beds  were  situated  at  New  Haven  and 
Milford,  Connecticut ;  also  at  Newport, 
Rhode  Island.  These  various  purchases 
gave  to  Captain  Lockwood  and  his  asso- 
ciates four  thousand  five  hundred  acres 
of  oyster  beds,  the  largest  plant  in  New 
England.  Their  equipment  consists  of  the 
latest  and  most  modern  appliances  for 
handling  oysters  from  the  time  the  seed 
oysters  are  planted  until  the  grown  oyster 
is  shipped  to  the  consumer. 

On  July  1,  1919,  all  these  properties 
were  combined  and  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  The  Sea  Coast  Oyster  Com- 
pany, Captain  Lockwood  holding  the  of- 
fice of  president  of  the  amalgamated  or- 
ganization. The  company  ships  its 
products  packed  in  barrels  from  Cape 
Cod  to  Canada  and  to  all  other  parts  of 
its  extensive  territory.  From  Wickford 
it  ships  oysters,  both  opened  and  in  bar- 
rels.   The  other  plants  are  used  as  feeders 


to  the  Wellfleet  and  Wickford  establish- 
ments. They  also  sell  seed  oysters  to 
planters  all  along  the  coast.  During  the 
oyster  season  they  employ  a  large  num- 
ber of  men.  In  1915,  in  association  with 
Charles  W.  Raymond,  Captain  Lockwood 
founded  the  firm  of  Lockwood  &  Ray- 
mond, purchasing  oyster  beds  in  Stam- 
ford and  near  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island. 
They  now  have  about  five  hundred  acres. 
In  19 1 5  Captain  Lockwood  was  appointed 
by  Governor  "Holcomb  to  the  office  of 
shell  fish  commissioner,  and  on  July  1, 
1919,  was  reappointed.  The  tribute  to 
Captain  Lockwood's  exceptional  quali- 
fications for  the  office  which  the  appoint- 
ment implied  was  richly  merited  as  the 
fact  of  its  renewal  most  conclusively 
proved. 

Captain  Lockwood  married  (first)  June 
8,  1892,  Emma  Frances  Peck,  daughter  of 
George  A.  and  Eliza  (Valentine)  Peck, 
of  Greenwich,  the  former  a  representative 
of  a  well  known  family  of  English  origin. 
Mrs.  Lockwood  died  September  15,  1909. 
Captain  Lockwood  married  (second) 
June  30,  1910,  Jennie  Mead,  widow  of 
Frederick  Mead,  and  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard and  Elizabeth  (Hawes)  Cox,  of 
Greenwich. 

The  home  of  Captain  Lockwood  at 
Coscob,  Connecticut,  which  he  built  about 
twelve  years  ago,  and  which  is  a  beautiful 
house  in  the  English  style  of  architecture, 
is  in  one  respect  truly  unique.  The  .foun- 
dation consists  of  a  solid  rock  out  of 
which  the  cellar  was  blasted.  On  this 
sure  basis,  provided  by  Nature,  he  has 
reared  the  fabric  of  a  charming  structure. 

Captain  Elbert  F.  Lockwood  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  a  family  the  history  of 
which  is  inextricably  interwoven  with 
the  narrative  of  the  development  and 
progress  of  New  England,  and  more  es- 
pecially, of  Connecticut.  As  the  acknowl- 
edged   head    of   one   of   New    England's 


28 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


leading  industries  he  has  faithfully  main- 
tained his  ancestral  traditions,  not  only 
in  the  upbuilding  of  his  own  fortunes,  but 
in  rendering  valuable  public  service  and 
in  advancing  the  welfare  and  prosperity 
of  large  numbers  of  his  fellowmen. 


LOCK  WOOD,  Fred  E., 

Merchant. 

For  many  years  Fred  E.  Lockwood 
stood  in  the  public  eye  in  Norwalk  as  a 
merchant,  and  the  record  of  progressive, 
straightforward  dealing  that  stands  in  his 
name  is  one  of  the  highest  tributes  to  his 
memory.  Not  alone  as  a  man  of  affairs 
and  as  a  public-spirited  citizen,  willing 
and  diligent  in  his  efforts  to  advance  the 
general  good,  is  Mr.  Lockwood  remem- 
bered, but  for  his  work  in  fraternal  orders 
and  his  sponsorship  of  the  cause  of  good 
sportsmanship  in  its  broadest  sense.  This 
memorial  to  his  life  and  work,  among 
those  of  the  men  who  were  his  daily  as- 
sociates, is  dedicated  in  recognition  of  the 
high  ideals  that  guided  his  daily  walk. 

Charles  W.  Lockwood,  father  of  Fred 
E.  Lockwood,  was  born  in  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut. He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carriage 
trimmer  and  followed  this  occupation  for 
some  years.  Later  an  opportunity  to  buy 
a  gravel  and  roofing  business  offered  bet- 
ter advantages  and  Mr.  Lockwood  bought 
this  business,  in  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful, and  for  many  years  he  was  the 
leading  man  in  that  line  in  his  section. 
After  selling  his  interests  in  the  roofing 
business,  he  purchased  a  fish  market  from 
Charles  Scofield,  which  was  located  on 
Wall  street,  about  fifty  feet  east  of  the 
cigar  store  which  is  now  opposite  the  foot 
of  Main  street  (1921).  Until  his  retire- 
ment from  active  business  duties  Mr. 
Lockwood  was  engaged  in  carrying  on 
the  fish  market,  and  sold  it  when  he  re- 
tired.     Mr.    Lockwood    was    a    staunch 


Republican,  and  took  a  keen  interest  in 
all  matters  of  public  welfare.  On  several 
occasions  he  was  asked  to  be  a  candidate 
for  public  office,  which  he  always  de- 
clined, preferring  to  serve  his  party  and 
the  interests  of  his  community  in  the  role 
of  a  private  citizen. 

Mr.  Lockwood  married  Jane  Capstick, 
a  daughter  of  Miles  Capstick.  The  latter 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  but  his  daughter 
was  born  in  Norwalk.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lockwood  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Fred  E.,  of  further  mention ; 
William  F.,  a  resident  of  Norwalk ; 
George,  of  the  firm  of  F.  E.  Lockwood  & 
Company,  of  Norwalk;  Minnie  L.,  wife 
of  Charles  Betts, 'of  Norwalk;  Edward, 
of  Norwalk. 

Fred  E.  Lockwood  was  born  June  4, 
1855,  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  there.  After 
completing  his  schooling,  he  secured  em- 
ployment in  the  dry  goods  store  of  John 
F.  Bennett,  where  he  remained  for  almost 
five  years.  Following  this  period  Mr 
Lockwood  was  in  the  employ  of  several 
concerns  in  the  capacity  of  salesman  on 
the  road.  While  traveling  in  this  way 
he  became  identified  with  the  Singer  Sew- 
ing Machine  Company,  first  as  salesman 
and  later  as  manager  of  their  Norwalk 
office.  His  service  covered  a  period  of 
eighteen  years,  Mr.  Lockwood  resigning 
in  1884  to  enter  the  employ  of  the  Sho- 
ninger  Piano  Company.  In  1894  he 
established  in  business,  independently, 
selling  and  repairing  bicycles,  also  deal- 
ing in  sewing  machines  and  musical  in- 
struments. As  the  automobile  business 
became  more  flourishing,  Mr.  Lockwood 
was  quick  to  see  the  opportunities  af- 
forded in  the  repairing  line  and  he  was 
the  pioneer  repairman  and  auto  dealer  in 
Norwalk.  At  first  he  handled  the  Olds- 
mobile,  and  later  had  the  agency  for  the 
Cadillac,  Kissel  and  Hubmobile  cars,  and 
the  Kissel  and  Mack  trucks.     In  addition 


29 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


he  maintained  a  store  in  which  was  car- 
ried a  general  line  of  auto  supplies  and 
sporting  goods,  in  connection  with  this  a 
large  service  station  and  garage.  His 
brother,  George  Lockwood,  was  in  part- 
nership with  him,  and  the  business  was 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  F.  E. 
Lockwood  &  Company.  Mr.  Lockwood 
met  with  well  deserved  success  in  his 
business,  the  result  of  intelligently  ap- 
plied effort  and  a  keen  initiative.  He  was 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  active  in 
municipal  affairs  though  not  a  seeker  for 
political  preferment. 

Mr.  Lockwood  was  interested  in  mili- 
tary affairs  at  the  time  of  the  formation  of 
the  old  Lockwood  Rifles  of  the  Connecti- 
cut National  Guard,  and  was  an  original 
member  and  officer  of  the  company.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  old  Nor- 
walk  Gun  Club,  and  was  long  considered 
one  of  the  best  shots  in  the  town.  He 
was  also  a  devotee  of  rod  and  reel,  and 
it  had  been  his  custom  for  some  years  to 
offer  a  prize  to  the  sportsman  bringing  in 
the  largest  trout  of  the  season.  He  was 
a  member  of  Our  Brothers  Lodge,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows ;  St.  John's 
Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ;  and 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Roxbury  Club, 
the  Phoenix  Engine  Company,  and  the 
Norwalk  Boat  Club.  His  associates  in 
these  organizations  felt  in  his  death  the 
loss  of  a  man  whose  life  exemplified  fra- 
ternity and  loyalty,  and  who  possessed 
many  commendable  virtues  in  a  manly 
personality. 

Fred  E.  Lockwood  married  Laura  Ar- 
nold, daughter  of  Theodore  and  Laura 
Arnold,  who  survives  him.  His  death 
occurred  January  25,  1921. 


MEAD  FAMILY, 

Ancestral   History. 

The  founders  of  our  civilization,  com- 
ing to  the  shores  of  the  New  World  while 


yet  that  world  was  a  wilderness,  brought 
with  them  something  of  far  greater  value 
than  the  material  possessions  which  they 
left  behind ;  greater  even  than  the  de- 
cadent principles  and  institutions  which 
they  had  foresworn.  They  brought  the 
spirit  of  independence  which  supported 
them  through  all  the  hardships  of  pio- 
neer life,  and  which  has  been  transmitted 
from  generation  to  generation,  making 
their  descendants  of  the  present  day  lead- 
ers among  men,  upholding  and  cherishing 
that  which  their  forebears  created,  and 
sustaining  the  National  progress  which 
received  its  first  impulse  from  these  early 
pioneers.  The  Mead  family,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  came  to 
New  England  and  established  the  name 
which  has  become  significant  of  high  at- 
tainment. 

The  surname  Mead  is  of  undoubted 
English  origin.  The  various  forms  now 
in  use  have  been  derived  from  the  root, 
"Ate  Med,"  and  have  been  handed  down 
through  very  many  generations  from 
ancient  times.  The  name  clearly  origi- 
nated in  the  location  of  the  home  of  this 
family  on  the  mead,  or  meadow. 

The  Connecticut  Meads  are  descended 
from  one,  William  Mead,  who  is  believed 
to  have  been  a  brother  of  Gabriel  Mead, 
the  immigrant  ancestor  of  the  Massachu- 
setts family.  Probably  these  two  broth- 
ers, with  their  families,  sailed  from  Lydd, 
Count)'  Kent,  England,  in  the  good  ship, 
"Elizabeth,"  in  April,  1635. 

(I)  William  Mead  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, about  1600.  He  was  married,  about 
1625,  and  died  in  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
about  1663.  He  was  a  man  of  great  fear- 
lessness of  spirit,  perhaps  not  as  out- 
spoken as  some  men  of  that  day,  but 
holding  fast  to  the  principles  which  he 
believed  to  be  right,  and  willing,  for  their 
sake,  to  face  the  unknown.  He  was  a 
man   of  uncompromising  attitude,   never 


30 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


satisfied  short  of  the  utmost  possibility. 
He  came  to  the  Massachusetts  Colony  in 
the  summer  of  1635,  then  pressed  farther 
inland,  and  settled  in  Wethersfield,  Con- 
necticut. Later  he  removed  to  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  was  granted  land  there 
on  December  7,  1641.  His  wife's  death 
is  recorded  on  September  19,  1657. 

(II)  John  Mead,  son  of  William  Mead, 
was  born  in  England,  about  1634,  and 
died  February  5,  1699.  He  married,  about 
1657,  Hannah  Potter,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Potter.  John  Mead  was  at  one  time 
in  Hempstead,  Long  Island,  removed  to 
Old  Greenwich,  now  Sound  Beach,  in 
1660,  then  became  one  of  the  original  pro- 
prietors of  Horse  Neck  (Greenwich),  in 

1672.  He  was  a  very  broad-minded,  pub- 
lic-spirited man,  and  did  much  for  the 
wellbeing  of  the  little  community.  He 
was  made  a  freeman  in  1670,  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  all  the  public  affairs  of 
the  section.  He  served  as  a  member  of 
the  General  Assembly  in  1679,  1680  and 
1686. 

(III)  John  (2)  Mead,  son  of  John  (1) 
and  Hannah  (Potter)  Mead,  lived  in 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  and  also  in  Hemp- 
stead, Long  Island.  Later  he  located 
permanently  in  Horse  Neck.  He  mar- 
ried, in  167 1,  Ruth  Hardy,  daughter  of 
Richard  Hardy.  The  second  John  Mead 
was,  like  his  father,  a  man  interested  and 
active  in  the  public  good,  bearing  his 
share  in  the  responsibilities  of  the  com- 
munity. He  served  in  different  offices, 
and  was  constable  in  1682. 

(IV)  Samuel  Mead,  son  of  John  (2) 
and  Ruth  (Hardy)  Mead,  was  born  about 

1673,  and  died  in  1713,  in  the  prime  of 
life.  He  married,  in  1695,  and  his  wife's 
Christian  name  was  Hannah.  One  of  the 
most  regrettable  things  about  this  period 
of  Colonial  history  is  that  the  records  of 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  colo- 
nies are  so  very  meager.     In  those  days 


men  were  scarcely  aware  of  the  meaning 
to  posterity  of  the  constructive  work  they 
were  doing.  To  them  it  was  largely  a 
daily  grind,  hallowed  only  by  those  ideals 
of  which  they  were  so  steadfastly  ten- 
acious, and  the  cost,  many  times,  in  peace 
as  well  as  in  war  was  a  sad  shortening  of 
useful  lives. 

(V)  Peter  Mead,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  Mead,  was  born  October  2,  1700. 
He  married,  July  29,  1744,  Hannah  Mead, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Mead. 

(VI)  Peter  (2)  Mead,  son  of  Peter  (1) 
and  Hannah  (Mead)  Mead,  was  born 
January  14,  1755,  and  died  December  20, 
1832.  He  married,  November  19,  1777, 
Hannah  Close,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Deborah  (Mead)  Close,  born  March  14, 
1756,  died  November  5,  1824. 

(VII)  Lucknor  Mead,  son  of  Peter  (2) 
and  Hannah  (Close)  Mead,  was  born 
May  17,  1793,  and  died  January  6,  1846. 
He  married,  February  14,  1814,  Sophia 
Fletcher,  who  was  born  October  4,  1794. 
and  died  April  24,  1852.  He  was  a  pros- 
perous, ambitious  man,  and  brought  up 
his  children  in  the  habits  of  thrift  and  in- 
dustry. 

(VIII)  Captain  Benjamin  C.  Mead, 
son  of  Lucknor  and  Sophia  (Fletcher) 
Mead,  was  born  in  Greenwich,  Connec- 
ticut, 1817,  and  died  in  1879.  He  was 
only  fourteen  years  old  when  he  began 
"following  the  water."  The  public  pros- 
perity had  reached  a  point  where  advan- 
tages of  commercial  communications  be- 
tween various  sections  had  become  a  mat- 
ter of  established  fact.  This  was  in  the 
days  before  the  railways  made  transpor- 
tation rapid,  safe,  and  low  enough  in 
cost  to  compete  successfully  with  sailing 
craft.  Benjamin  C.  Mead,  with  the  spirit 
of  his  forebears  strong  in  him,  set  out  to 
make  his  own  future  in  the  coastwise 
trade.  He  began  on  a  packet  running  be- 
tween Bridgeport  and  New  York,  loaded 


31 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


with  produce  from  the  Connecticut  farms. 
Good-tempered,  hard-working,  possessed 
of  excellent  judgment  and  the  ability  to 
command,  he  rose  rapidly,  and  was  only 
twenty  years  old  when  he  became  cap- 
tain of  a  vessel.  The  business  was  very 
profitable,  with  no  competition,  and  he 
invested  his  savings  to  such  good  ad- 
vantage that  at  one  time  he  owned  two 
schooners.  He  always  remained  in  the 
coastwise  trade,  following  the  seafaring 
life  up  to  within  a  short  time  before  his 
death. 

Captain  Benjamin  C.  Mead  married 
Mary  E.  Ritch,  daughter  of  Ralph  and 
Clemence  (Mead)  Ritch  (see  Ritch  VI). 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

(The  Ritch  Line). 

(I)  Henry  Ritch,  the  earliest  ancestor 
of  this  family  of  whom  there  is  record  in 
this  section  of  Connecticut,  bought  land 
of  Caleb  Webb  in  Stamford  in  1681.  In 
1685  he  sold  this  land  and  removed  to 
Greenwich.  Here  he  was  granted  three 
acres  of  land,  May  19,  1686.  He  died  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  1710.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  October  21,  1680,  Martha  Pen- 
oyer,  daughter  of  Robert  Penoyer.  The 
Christian  name  of  his  second  wife  was 
Sarah. 

(II)  Thomas  Ritch,  son  of  Henry 
Ritch,  was  born  about  1682,  and  prob- 
ably spent  his  entire  life  in  the  same 
neighborhood.  His  wife's  Christian  name 
was  Ruth. 

(III)  John  Ritch,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Ruth  Ritch,  was  born  May  4,  17 18.  He 
married,  February  17,  1741,  Jemima 
Holmes. 

(IV)  James  Ritch,  son  of  John  and 
Jemima  (Holmes)  Ritch,  was  born  June 
8,  1763.  He  married  (first)  Mary  Ann 
Lockwood,  born  April  15,  1763.  Married 
(second)  Mary  Whelpley,  born  October 
18,  1774. 


(V)  Ralph  Ritch,  son  of  James  and 
Mary  (Whelpley)  Ritch,  was  born  March 
9,  1798,  and  died  December  28,  1846.  He 
was  the  seventh  child.  He  married,  De- 
cember 5,  1819,  Clemence  Mead,  born  De- 
cember 25,  1797,  died  March  27,  1867, 
daughter  of  Matthew  and  Nancy  (Hob- 
by) Mead. 

(VI)  Mary  E.  Ritch,  daughter  of  Ralph 
and  Clemence  (Mead)  Ritch,  married  Cap- 
tain Benjamin  C.  Mead  (see  Mead  VIII). 


MEAD,  Benjamin  Heath, 

Attorney-at-Law. 

There  was  never  a  time  in  the  history 
of  our  Nation  when  there  was  more  im- 
perative need  of  sane,  wholesome  man- 
hood in  public  life.  The  country  needs 
men  who  do  not  fear  to  be  leaders,  men 
who  are  able  to  apply  in  a  practical  way 
the  deductions  which  business  or  profes- 
sional life  has  taught  them  to  the  health 
and  upbuilding  of  the  body  politic.  The 
communities  which  can  command  this 
loyal  service  are  taking  front  rank  in  the 
march  of  progress.  The  city  of  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  counts  among  these  men  the 
name  of  Benjamin  Heath  Mead,  whose 
ancestors  have  borne  their  share  in  the 
founding  and  development  of  the  city. 

(IX)  Benjamin  Penfield  Mead,  son  of 
Captain  Benjamin  C.  and  Mary  E.  (Ritch) 
Mead  (q.  v.),  was  born  in  Bridgeport, 
Connecticut,  September  23,  1848.  He 
was  only  an  infant  when  his  parents,  who 
had  theretofore  lived  in  Greenwich,  re- 
turned to  that  town.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  then  completed  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Greenwich  Academy.  He 
spent  his  early  years  with  his  father  on 
shipboard.  But  a  seafaring  life  did  not 
appeal  to  him  from  a  business  viewpoint, 
and  about  the  time  he  became  of  age  he 
went  to  New  York  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Davis  &  Benson,  wholesale  flour 


32 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


merchants.  He  found  business  life  con- 
genial, but  after  several  years  with  this 
firm  became  anxious  to  branch  out  for 
himself.  Going  to  New  Canaan,  Connec- 
ticut, he  formed  a  partnership  with  James 
W.  Burtes,  and  they  embarked  in  the  gro- 
cery business.  They  were  very  success- 
ful, and  this  partnership  was  continued 
until  a  short  time  before  Mr.  Mead's 
death.  Mr.  Mead  was  an  active  member 
of  the  firm,  a  first  class  business  man. 
He  also  became  interested  in  local  real 
estate.  He  had  great  faith  in  the  future 
prosperity  and  progress  of  the  town  of 
New  Canaan,  and  put  heart  and  soul  into 
its  development,  with  the  result  that 
those  who  knew  can  recognize  his  hand 
in  many  of  the  most  desirable  features  of 
the  town.  He  helped  to  found  the  New 
Canaan  Public  Library,  and  the  free  read- 
ing room  connected  with  it.  He  recog- 
nized the  fact  that  the  security  of  our 
Government  and  her  future  position 
among  the  nations  of  the  world  rests 
largely  on  the  intelligence  of  her  citizens. 
The  library  thus  started  in  a  humble  way 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  important  in- 
stitutions of  the  town.  The  memory  of 
his  work  in  connection  with  it,  and  the 
great  heart  and  broad  sympathies  of  the 
man,  will  long  keep  alive  the  impulse  he 
gave  it  at  the  start.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  New  Canaan  Fire  Com- 
pany, also  founded  the  New  Canaan  Wa- 
ter Company  with  others. 

Mr.  Mead  was  a  Republican  in  political 
affiliation,  and  it  was  but  natural  that  his 
party  should  place  a  man  of  his  calibre 
in  positions  of  responsibility.  He  was 
repeatedly  elected  to  public  office.  He 
held  every  office  in  the  town  government, 
from  selectman  to  auditor.  He  served  as 
first  selectman  for  eight  or  ten  consecu- 
tive years,  and  was  representative  to  the 
Legislature  for  three  terms — 1885,  ^87 
and  1889.     He  also  served  in  the  State 

Conn— 8— 3 


Senate  for  two  years,  being  elected  by  the 
Twelfth  District.  During  his  legislative 
career  he  served  on  the  membership  com- 
mittee, the  school  fund,  was  chairman  of 
the  fish  and  game  committee,  and  served 
on  the  senatorial,  charities,  and  cities  and 
boroughs  committees.  He  was  state  con- 
troller for  two  consecutive  terms.  When 
he  was  elected  controller  the  second  time, 
he  was  the  only  man  on  the  Republican 
ticket  to  be  elected.  He  also  served  for 
a  time  as  state  auditor.  Although  he  was 
a  candidate  for  public  office  upwards  of 
thirty  times,  he  was  never  once  defeated. 
Benjamin  Penfield  Mead  married  Flor- 
ence Heath,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Heath, 
of  New  Canaan,  born  in  1857.  Of  their 
children  four  grew  to  maturity ;  Benja- 
min Heath,  of  whom  extended  mention 
will  follow;  Harold  H.,  born  November 
25,  1888;  Stanley  Penfield,  born  in  1890, 
who  was  graduated  from  Yale  Univer- 
sity, Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  from  Yale 
Law  School,  Bachelor  of  Laws,  now  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bartram  &  Mead ; 
Florence  Louise,  born  December  26,  1893. 
The  family  have  always  been  active  in 
the  work  of  the  Congregational  church, 
Mr.  Mead  having  been  until  his  death  a 
trustee  of  the  society,  and  his  wife  prom- 
inent in  the  work  of  the  women's  organ- 
izations connected  with  the  church.  The 
passing  away  of  Mr.  Mead  was  looked 
upon  as  a  public  loss,  and  his  many 
friends  united  with  his  family  in  paying 
respect  to  his  memory. 

(X)  Benjamin  Heath  Mead,  the  eldest 
child  of  Benjamin  Penfield  and  Florence 
(Heath)  Mead,  was  born  in  New  Can- 
aan, Connecticut,  March  27,  1887.  As  a 
boy,  he  was  an  active,  whole-souled  fel- 
low, going  into  study  and  sports  alike 
with  the  vim  and  eagerness  characteris- 
tic of  his  family.  He  was  educated  in 
King's  private  school,  Stamford,  and  long 
before  his  graduation  from  that  institu- 


33 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


tion  had  mapped  out  his  future.  He  en- 
tered Yale  University  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  1906  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts.  He  then  entered  Yale  Law 
School  and  was  graduated  in  1908  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  the  same  year,  and 
practiced  with  his  uncle,  the  Hon.  James 
R.  Mead,  of  Greenwich,  a  review  of  whose 
life  appears  in  this  work,  remaining  with 
him  for  about  one  year.  Advantageous 
as  this  arrangement  was,  Mr.  Mead  fol- 
lowed the  traditions  of  the  family  in  strik- 
ing out  for  himself.  In  1909  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Floyd  B.  Bartram,  a 
sketch  of  whose  life  also  appears  in  this 
work.  The  firm  name  became  Bartram  & 
Mead,  and  while  it  is  one  of  the  younger 
law  firms  in  this  section  these  progres- 
sive young  men  have  already  won  an  en- 
viable position  in  their  profession.  While 
Mr.  Mead  was  still  in  college  he  was  cap- 
tain of  the  Yale  Military  Company,  and 
during  the  recent  World  War  he  devoted 
every  possible  resource  and  a  very  large 
share  of  his  time  to  the  forwarding  of 
every  public  movement  in  support  of  the 
American  Expeditionary  Force.  He  was 
captain  of  a  team  on  each  of  the  Liberty 
Loan  drives,  was  secretary  of  the  Salva- 
tion Army  Drive,  and  the  law  office  of 
Bartram  &  Mead  took  care  of  all  the  cler- 
ical work  connected  therewith.  Mr.  Mead 
also  worked  on  all  the  Red  Cross  drives. 
Socially,  he  is  much  sought.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi;  of 
Wooster  Lodge,  No.  37,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows ;  of  Union  Lodge,  No. 
5,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
He  is  serving  his  second  year  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Stamford  Kiwanis  Club,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Suburban  Club. 

Mr.  Mead  married  Ivy  St.  John  Corn- 
stock,  daughter  of  Frank  L.  and  Esther 
Elizabeth  Comstock,  and  they  are  the 
parents     of     four     children :      Benjamin 


Heath,  Jr.,  Esther  Elizabeth  and  Flor- 
ence Louise,  twin  daughters,  and  Faith 
Bickford.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mead  are  active 
members  of  the  Congregational  church, 
where  Mr.  Mead  has  served  as  trustee  and 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school.  He  is  now  president  of  the 
Young  People's  Society. 

It  takes  no  prophet  to  foresee  for  Mr. 
Mead  a  future  which  shall  make  a  mark 
on  the  history  of  the  city  and  the  State. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  affilia- 
tim,  and  has  served  on  the  Town  Com- 
nvttee  and  on  the  Board  of  Finance  of 
X»-w  Canaan,  and  on  the  Town  Highway 
Commission.  He  was  nominated  for  Sen- 
ator from  the  district,  but  was  defeated 
by  the  Progressive  party,  which  split  the 
normal  Republican  vote.  He  has  taken 
the  stump  with  good  effect  for  the  party 
in  several  political  campaigns. 


MEAD,  Hon.  James  R., 

Lawyer,  Jurist. 

In  public  life  to  serve  is  the  greatest 
honor.  The  man  who  has  given  most  of 
the  depths  of  his  experience,  of  the 
breadth  of  his  sympathies,  or  the  strength 
of  his  spirit,  this  is  the  man  to  whom  the 
world,  often  all  unwittingly,  yields  the 
tribute  of  confidence.  That  this  tribute 
carries  with  its  burdens  and  responsibili- 
ties makes  it  no  less  an  honor,  but  it  is 
rarely  bestowed  where  it  is  undeserved. 
With  such  a  man  as  the  Hon.  James  R. 
Mead,  of  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  it  is 
not  difficult  to  understand  why  the  people 
place  in  him  the  confidence  which  a  child 
feels  in  his  father,  or  a  man  in  a  leader 
who  has  proven  his  capability  under 
stress  of  adverse  circumstances.  Judge 
Mead  has  won  and  held  the  confidence  of 
the  people  during  all  the  years  in  which 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Fairfield 
county  bar. 


34 


/\J4AAJUju^ 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(IX)  Hon.  James  R.  Mead,  the  eminent 
attorney  and  judge  of  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut, son  of  Captain  Benjamin  C.  and 
Mary  E.  (Ritch)  Mead  (q.  v.),  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Greenwich,  Connecticut, 
August  28,  i860.  He  received  his  elemen- 
tary education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town,  and  later  attended  the 
Greenwich  Academy.  He  was  a  devoted 
and  thorough  student,  loving  research  for 
its  own  sake  as  well  as  for  the  purpose 
it  served  in  forwarding  his  life  ambition. 
He  entered  the  law  office  of  Colonel  H. 
W.  R.  Hoyt,  of  Greenwich,  and  after 
studying  under  his  able  preceptorship  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  May  19,  1882.  From 
the  first  he  showed  promise  of  the  re- 
markable power  which  he  developed  in 
later  life.  He  remained  with  Colonel 
Hoyt  for  three  years  longer,  then  opened 
an  office  of  his  own  in  Greenwich.  He 
has  carried  on  for  the  greater  part  a  gen- 
eral law  practice,  but  has  handled  some 
very  interesting  and  celebrated  cases. 

The  services  of  a  man  of  this  calibre 
could  not  be  overlooked  by  that  public 
which  needs  men.  Judge  Mead  has  al- 
ways been  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  the  party  needed  him.  Not 
only  did  the  party  need  him,  the  city  and 
State  needed  him,  for  he  was  not  a  man 
to  subserve  the  good  of  the  public  to  the 
interests  of  the  party.  He  was  first 
elected  town  clerk,  in  1886,  and  held  the 
office  continuously  for  seventeen  years. 
He  was  assistant  prosecuting  attorney  of 
the  Borough  Court  for  ten  years.  In  June, 
1889,  he  was  elected  deputy  judge  of  the 
Borough  Court,  which  office  he  held  for 
two  years ;  he  served  for  two  years  as 
warden  of  the  borough  of  Greenwich,  and 
was  for  four  years  its  borough  attorney, 
and  for  six  years  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Burgesses  of  the  borough  of  Green- 
wich ;  then  was  elected  to  the  State  Leg- 
islature and  served  in  the  session  of  1903. 


He  served  as  house  chairman  of  the  in- 
surance committee;  was  member  of  the 
committee  on  congressional  and  sena- 
torial districts.  In  191 5  he  was  elected 
to  the  State  Senate  and  reelected  in  1917. 
He  served  as  chairman  at  both  sessions 
of  the  Senate  committee  on  cities  and 
boroughs.  He  was  again  reelected  in 
1919,  and  was  made  Senate  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  appropriations.  He  is 
chairman  of  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  last  Legislature  to  frame  a  new  ad- 
ministration code.  He  has  been  delegate 
to  many  party  conventions,  and  has 
served  his  party  on  the  stump  in  many 
important  and  closely  contested  cam- 
paigns. In  the  public  institutions  of  the 
town  of  Greenwich,  Judge  Mead  has  al- 
ways held  positions  of  dignity  and  re- 
sponsibility. He  is  a  director  of  the 
Greenwich  National  Bank,  and  president 
of  the  Greenwich  Water  Company.  He 
is  president  of  the  Putnam  Cemetery  As- 
sociation, and  of  the  New  Canaan  Water 
Company. 

Judge  Mead  married  Elizabeth  M. 
Stone,  daughter  of  Thomas  Stone,  of 
Brooklyn,  New  York.  They  have  long 
attended  and  supported  the  Congrega- 
tional church. 


MEAD,  Charles, 

Member  of  Important  Family. 

The  best  asset  in  a  community  is  its 
strong  men,  men  of  honor  and  integrity. 
These  men  leave  a  definite  impression 
upon  the  public,  the  professional  and  in- 
dustrial life  of  a  city.  They  prove  the 
truth  of  the  assertion  that  "The  world 
today  is  what  the  men  of  the  last  gener- 
ation have  made  it."  Closely  interwoven 
with  the  history  of  Fairfield  county  is  the 
history  of  the  Mead  family.  Members  of 
this  family  have  been  settled  there  since 


35 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


a  very  early  date,  and  they  have  taken  a 
vital  interest  in  all  of  its  affairs. 

(III)  Ebenezer  Mead,  son  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Potter)  Mead  (q.  v.),  was  born 
in  1663,  and  died  in  1728.  He  married, 
in  1691,  Sarah  Knapp,  of  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut. 

(IV)  Ebenezer  (2)  Mead,  son  of  Eben- 
ezer (1)  and  Sarah  (Knapp)  Mead,  was 
born  October  25,  1692,  and  died  May  3, 
1775.  He  married,  December  12,  1717, 
Hannah  Brown,  of  Rye,  New  York. 

(V)  Jonas  Mead,  son  of  Ebenezer  (2) 
and  Hannah  (Brown)  Mead,  was  born 
December  25,  1723,  and  died  September 
14,  1783.  He  married  Sarah  Howe, 
daughter  of  Captain  Isaac  Howe,  born 
January  9,   1741,  died  December  8,  1779. 

(VI)  Deacon  Jonas  (2)  Mead,  son  of 
Jonas  (1)  and  Sarah  (Howe)  Mead,  was 
born  April  13,  17 — ,  and  died  August  2, 
1871.  He  married,  January  2,  1809,  Han- 
nah Hebbard,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Heb- 
bard,  who  died  March  12,  1814. 

(VII)  Deacon  Charles  Mead,  son  of 
Deacon  Jonas  (2)  and  Hannah  (Hebbard) 
Mead,  was  born  February  4,  1812,  and 
died  January  10,  1898.  He  was  educated 
in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  the  work 
of  farming  occupied  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  In  his  youth  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Train  Band.  He  married,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1831,  Rachel  Elizabeth  Sackett 
(see  Sackett  VIII). 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mead  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children :  Sarah  A.,  wife  of 
Benjamin  P.  Brush ;  Whitman  Sackett, 
whose  sketch  follows ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Zophar  Mead ;  Hannah  H.,  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  185 1  ;  Charles  Noah,  whose  sketch 
follows. 

(The  Sackett  Line). 

(I)  Simon  Sackett,  the  first  of  the  fam- 
ily in  New  England,  died  in  October, 
1635.  He  came  to  New  England  in  the 
ship  "Lyon"  in  1630,  and  was  among  the 


first  settlers  of  Newton,  now  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts. 

(II)  Simon  (2)  Sackett,  son  of  Simon 
(1)  Sackett,  was  born  in  1630,  and  was 
but  an  infant  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  America.  He  died  in  1659.  He 
married,  in  1652,  Sarah  Bloomfield, 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Bloom- 
field. 

(III)  Captain  Joseph  Sackett,  son  of 
Simon  (2)  and  Sarah  (Bloomfield)  Sack- 
ett, was  born  in  Springfield,  Massachu- 
setts, February  23,  1656,  and  died  July  23, 

1719.  He  lived  in  Newton,  Long  Island, 
and  held  many  public  offices.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Betts,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Richard  Betts. 

(IV)  Rev.  Richard  Sackett,  son  of 
Captain  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Betts) 
Sackett,  was  born  about  1686,  and  died 
May  8,  1737.  In  1709  he  was  graduated 
from  Yale  College,  where  he  had  studied 
for  the  ministry.  In  171 1  he  was  the 
preacher  in  Maidenhead  and  Hopewell, 
New  Jersey,  and  the  following  year  was 
in  Saybrook.  In  1714  he  was  in  Green- 
wich, Connecticut,  preaching,  and  two 
years  later  in  that  part  of  Greenwich 
called  Horse  Neck.  In  1717  a  new  church 
was  formed  there  of  which  he  was  or- 
dained the  pastor.  He  labored  diligently 
among  his  flock  and  was  greatly  beloved. 
He  died  May  9,  1727. 

(V)  Hon.  Nathaniel  Sackett,  son  of 
Rev.  Richard  Sackett,  was  born  June  8, 

1720,  and  died  before  1768.  About  1739 
he  married  Anne  Bush,  daughter  of  Justus 
Bush,  Jr.,  who  died  about  1746.  For  some 
years  Mr.  Sackett  lived  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  was  in  business.  He  was  a 
member  of  Captain  Van  Home's  military 
company;  in  1753  ne  established  his  per- 
manent home  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut. 
In    1756   he   was   representative,   also   in 


36 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1760;  and  from   1757  to   1760  he  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace. 

(VI)  Justus  Sackett,  son  of  Hon.  Na- 
thaniel and  Anne  (Bush)  Sackett,  was 
born  in  1740,  and  died  January  15,  1827. 
Pie  married  Anna  Lyon. 

(VII)  John  Sackett,  son  of  Justus  and 
Anna  (Lyon)  Sackett,  was  married,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1809,  to  Mary  Mead,  daughter  of 
Whitman  and  Rachel  Mead.  He  died  in 
1864. 

(VIII)  Rachel  Elizabeth  Sackett,  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Mead) 
Sackett,  was  born  December  19,  181 1, 
died  July  18,  1885.  She  became  the  wife 
of  Deacon  Charles  Mead  (see  Mead  VII). 


MEAD,  Whitman  Sackett, 

Public-spirited  Citizen. 

Whitman  S.  Mead,  son  of  Deacon 
Charles  and  Rachel  Elizabeth  (Sackett) 
Mead  (q.v.),  was  born  April  17,  1841,  in 
Byram,  on  the  Byram  river,  Connecti- 
cut, and  was  educated  in  the  school  at 
Coscob  and  the  Greenwich  Academy  of 
Greenwich,  Connecticut.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  went  to  work  for  a 
wholesale  dry  goods  house  in  New  York 
City,  where  he  continued  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.  The  members  of 
this  firm  being  Southerners,  they  natu- 
rally returned  to  the  South  and  at  the 
same  time  Mr.  Mead  returned  to  his  na- 
tive home  to  care  for  his  father's  farm. 
Since  1686  this  homestead  has  been  in 
possession  of  the  family.  Business  in- 
terests soon  engaged  his  attention  and 
practically  all  of  his  time  were  devoted 
to  them,  although  throughout  his  entire 
life  he  managed  the  farm  interests.  Mr. 
,  Mead  was  a  trustee  of  the  Greenwich 
Trust  and  Loan  Company,  and  a  director 
of  the  Rippowam  Woolen  Manufactur- 
ing Company.  He  was  very  active  in 
public  matters ;  his  vote  was  cast  for  Ab- 


raham Lincoln  in  i860,  and  he  was  a 
staunch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party.  Mr.  Mead  was  hon- 
ored with  many  positions  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility ;  he  was  registrar  and  select- 
man, and  was  appointed  in  July,  1891, 
county  commissioner.  In  January,  1897, 
he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate.  In 
many  ways  he  gave  assistance  to  those 
who  needed  it ;  he  gave  of  his  time  to  the 
public  welfare  and  of  his  finances  to  those 
charitable  movements  which  brought  hope 
and  many  times  sunshine  to  the  less  for- 
tunate. He  was  held  in  the  highest  re- 
spect, and  at  his  death  in  1914  was  sin- 
cerely mourned. 

Mr.  Mead  married,  February  9,  1871, 
Sara  Sackett,  born  September  II,  1845, 
daughter  of  J.  Ralph  and  Mary  E.  (Mead) 
Sackett,  and  this  marriage  was  blessed 
with  four  daughters.  They  were :  Julia, 
Clara,  Helen  and  Marion. 


MEAD,  Charles  Noah, 

Merchant. 

Charles  Noah  Mead,  son  of  Deacon 
Charles  and  Rachel  Elizabeth  (Sackett) 
Mead  (q.v.),  was  born  in  Greenwich, 
Connecticut,  February  25,  1854.  The 
Academy  of  Greenwich  afforded  him  his 
early  education,  and  the  intervals  between 
were  spent  in  assisting  his  father  about 
the  work  of  the  homestead.  Through  this 
outdoor  exercise  the  young  man  devel- 
oped a  sound  mind  and  healthy  body,  and 
was  well  equipped  to  enter  the  business 
world. 

In  partnership  with  Henry  M.  Brush, 
the  oldest  dry  goods  business  in  Green- 
wich was  purchased  in  the  early  eighties. 
For  many  years  they  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness under  the  firm  name  of  Mead  & 
Brush.  The  interests  of  his  partner  were 
subsequently  purchased  by  Mr.  Mead, 
who   continued   to  conduct   it   alone   for 


37 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


several  years.  With  the  natural  growth 
of  the  town  and  the  growth  needed  in 
business  to  compete  with  this,  Mr.  Mead 
incorporated  the  business,  since  which 
time  he  has  acted  as  president.  During 
his  many  years  in  business  Mr.  Mead  has 
been  distinguished  for  his  high-minded 
integrity,  and  all  those  who  come  in  con- 
tact with  him  admire  his  qualities.  He 
has  rendered  faithful  and  conscientious 
service  to  his  city  and  State.  For  many 
years  he  has  served  as  deacon  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  of  Greenwich,  and  is 
the  sixth  in  direct  descent  of  his  family 
to  hold  this  office.  In  the  spring  of  1919, 
Mr.  Mead  put  a  new  bell  in  the  church 
tower  in  memory  of  the  ancestors  who 
had  preceded  him  in  the  office  of  deacon. 


MEAD,  Oliver  Deliverance. 

Business  Man. 

The  name  of  Mead  is  frequently  found 
on  the  pages  of  history  of  Fairfield  county, 
Connecticut.  From  the  earliest  settle- 
ments in  that  colony  the  members  of  this 
family  have  been  prominent  and  are  still 
to-day  upholding  the  prestige  and  honor- 
able position  which  they  have  occupied 
for  generations. 

(V)  Jared  Mead,  son  of  Ebenezer  (2) 
and  Hannah  (Brown)  Mead  (q.  v.),  was 
born  December  15,  1738,  died  May  8, 
1832.  He  married,  December  10,  1775, 
Lydia  Smith,  born  December  8,  1754,  died 
January  27,  1824,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Smith. 

(VI)  Daniel  Smith  Mead,  son  of  Jared 
and  Lydia  (Smith)  Mead,  was  born  No- 
vember 20,  1778,  and  died  December  21, 
1831.  He  married,  January  16,  1806,  Ra- 
chel Mead,  born  September  2,  1779,  died 
January  10,  1859,  daughter  of  Joshua 
Mead. 

(VII)  Daniel  Smith  (2)  Mead,  son  of 
Daniel    Smith    (1)    and    Rachel    (Mead) 


Mead,  was  born  in  Greenwich,  Connec- 
ticut, on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
undertaking  rooms  of  Mr.  Knapp,  April 
9,  181 1,  and  died  in  1906.  His  educa- 
tional opportunities  were  limited,  but  he 
was  a  keen  student  of  human  nature  and 
was  highly  respected  for  his  opinions. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  in  politics  was 
originally  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican. 
Mr.  Mead  was  an  exceptionally  quiet, 
home-loving  man,  and  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church. 
He  married,  November  26,  1832,  Huldah 
Mead,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Mead,  born 
February  5,  1812,  died  October  27,  1882. 
Their  children  were:  Ophelia,  married 
William  Long;  Esther  A.,  married  Isaac 
Mead;  Daniel  Smith  (3);  Oliver  D.,  of 
further  mention. 

(VIII)  Oliver  Deliverance  Mead,  son 
of  Daniel  Smith  (2)  and  Huldah  (Mead) 
Mead,  was  born  in  Greenwich,  Connecti- 
cut, December  29,  1842.  He  was  brought 
up  on  the  home  farm  and  remained  there 
until  1882,  when  he  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent residence  in  Field  Point  Park,  where 
he  continued  farming.  Later  he  organ- 
ized the  Field  Point  Land  Company,  of 
which  he  has  since  been  president,  and 
cut  the  farm  up  into  house  lots.  In  this 
way  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  have 
been  developed  into  the  most  beautiful 
residence  sections  of  the  State.  Mr. 
Mead  was  also  president  of  the  Green- 
wich Niationa1  Bank  for  ten  years.  For 
thirteen  years  he  served  in  the  State 
Militia. 

Mr.  Mead  married  Cornelia  Scofield, 
daughter  of  William  and  Cornelia  (Mead) 
Scofield.  Cornelia  (Mead)  Scofield  was 
born  September  12,  1820,  and  died  June 
9,  1873.  William  Scofield,  her  husband, 
was  born  September  29,  1816,  and  died 
February  16,  1906.  He  was  of  Stamford. 
He  was  a  son  of  Rufus  Scofield,  who  died 
in    Greenwich,  July   28,    1854,   aged   sev- 


38 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


enty-five  years.  He  owned  and  ran  for 
some  years  a  mill  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Mianus  river  at  Ccscob,  Connecticut.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mead  were  the  parents  of  three 
children :  Cora  A.,  married  Adam  Guy, 
of  Brooklyn,  New  York ;  Olive  May,  mar- 
ried Newell  L.  Mead ;  Lydia  Smith,  mar- 
ried William  J.  Ferris,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr. 
Mead  and  his  wife  attend  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Greenwich. 


NASH,  Paul, 

Civil  Engineer. 

The  story  of  America  is  a  story  of 
workers.  The  big  men  of  our  nation, 
from  the  beginning,  have  been  men  who 
were  not  afraid  to  go  out  and  take  hold 
of  the  real  work  of  the  world.  They  have 
not  despised  the  grime  and  exhaustion  of 
toil,  and  have  given  to  labor  a  dignity 
which  it  never  before  had  received.  Be- 
cause this  is  true,  America  has  become 
a  nation  of  achievement  and  the  men  who 
belong  to  the  great  army  of  workers  hold 
a  higher  position  than  those  who  belong 
to  the  aristocracies  of  old.  Paul  Nash, 
the  prominent  civil  engineer  of  Stamford, 
is  one  of  those  men  whose  pride  is  his 
work. 

The  name  of  Nash  is  of  Saxon  origin. 
In  the  early  times  the  prefix  atte  was 
much  used  with  the  first  surnames,  as 
Atte-Wood  ;  and  for  euphony  an  "n"  was 
often  added.  Such  was  the  case  with  the 
name  "Atte-n-Ash."  In  the  natural  evo- 
lution of  the  name,  the  prefix  was  gradu- 
ally dropped,  and  the  name  became  Nash. 
In  all  probability  the  first  bearer  of  the 
name  lived  near  an  ash  tree  or  an  ash 
wood. 

(I)  The  earliest  known  ancestor  of  the 
family,  Edward  Nash,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster, England,  in  August,  1592,  in  the 
reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 


(II)  Edward  (2)  Nash,  son  of  Edward 
(1)  Nash,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Eng- 
land, in  1623,  and  emigrated  to  America 
in  1649  or  I650.  He  resided  in  Stratford, 
Connecticut,  for  two  years,  where  his 
daughter  Anna  was  born  January  18, 
165 1.  In  1652  he  removed  to  Norwalk, 
Connecticut,  and  there  followed  his  occu- 
pation of  tanner  near  where  Christ  Epis- 
copal Church  now  stands  in  East  Nor- 
walk. There  was  a  stream  of  water  there 
which  was  used  by  Edward  Nash  in  his 
business  of  tanner.  It  is  believed  that  he 
was  the  first  hearthstone  occupant  of  the 
town  of  Norwalk,  and  the  early  records 
give  no  cause  to  doubt  it.  In  1690  he  had 
a  large  estate  rated  at  £216,  and  unvary- 
ing tradition  says  he  lived  to  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years. 

(III)  John  Nash,  son  of  Edward  (2) 
Nash,  was  the  first  white  male  child  born 
in  Norwalk,  in  1652,  and  he  died  between 
1712  and  1713.  He  was  presented  with 
a  piece  of  land  on  which  now  stands 
Christ  Episcopal  Church  in  East  Nor- 
walk. John  Nash  married,  May  1,  1684, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Barlow,  of 
Fairfield,  whose  widow  Edward  Nash  had 
previously  married  for  his  second  wife. 
Mrs.  Mary  Nash  died  September  2,  171 1. 

(IV)  John  (2)  Nash,  son  of  John  (1) 
and  Mary  Nash,  was  born  December  25, 
1688.  He  married,  May  19,  1709,  Abigail 
Blakeley,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Blakeley, 
of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children. 

(V)  Micajah  Nash,  son  of  John  (2) 
and  Abigail  (Blakeley)  Nash,  was  born 
in  1720.  He  married,  October  9,  1744, 
Mary  Scribner,  daughter  of  John  and  De- 
borah (Lee)   Scribner. 

(VI)  Daniel  Nash,  son  of  Micajah  and 
Mary  (Scribner)  Nash,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 2,  1747.  He  married  Freelove  Wright, 
daughter  of  Dennis  and  Susannah 
(Smith)  Wright,  April  24,  1768.    He  later 


39 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


removed  to  Patchogue,  Long  Island, 
where  he  had  a  saw  mill  and  sawed  lum- 
ber for  the  soldiers  in  the  Revolution. 

(VII)  Daniel  (2)  Nash,  son  of  Daniel 
(1)  and  Freelove  (Wright)  Nash,  was 
born  May  12,  1770,  in  Patchogue,  Long 
Island.  He  married  Rebecca  Camp, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  (Bou- 
ton)  Camp,  of  Norwalk,  October  9,  1808. 
Daniel  Nash  had  a  saw  and  grist  mill  on 
the  King's  Highway.  He  died  August 
2,  1865. 

(VIII)  Andrew  Camp  Nash,  son  of 
Daniel  (2)  and  Rebecca  (Camp)  Nash, 
was  born  June  4,  1811,  and  died  July  II, 
1897.  He  was  a  farmer.  On  January  18, 
1835,  he  married  Eliza  A.  Adams,  daugh- 
ter of  Jabez  and  Anna  Adams. 

(IX)  Edward  Adams  Nash,  son  of 
Andrew  Camp  and  Eliza  A.  (Adams) 
Nash,  was  born  December  25,  1841.  He 
married  Mary  Edwards  Morey,  of  Kent, 
Connecticut,  June  6,  1866,  and  their  chil- 
dren were :  Edward  Irving,  born  October 
10,  1867;  Anne  Winifred,  born  March  13, 
1869,  who  married  W.  J.  Wood ;  and  Paul, 
of  whom  further. 

(X)  Paul  Nash,  son  of  Edward  Adams 
and  Mary  Edwards  (Morey)  Nash,  was 
born  December  3,  1870,  in  Westport,  Con- 
necticut. As  a  boy  he  showed  interest 
in  any  kind  of  construction  work.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Westport,  then  the  South  Nor- 
walk High  School,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1886,  and  Sheffield  Scientific 
School  of  Yale  University  in  1887,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1890  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Phil- 
osophy. He  immediately  struck  out  into 
active  work  along  his  chosen  line,  work- 
ing for  two  years  in  association  with 
W.  B.  Rider,  civil  engineer  of  Norwalk. 
Then  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Yale 
&  Towne  Manufacturing  Company,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  six  years.     This 


experience  placed  the  young  man  where 
he  felt  the  confidence  in  himself  which  is 
only  to  be  won  through  actual  handling 
of  practical  problems  in  any  line  of  work. 
The  opportunity  offered,  and  in  1899  ne 
became  the  city  engineer  of  Stamford. 
This  is  a  position  of  more  than  usual  re- 
sponsibility, because  it  includes  not  only 
the  usual  engineering  work  of  the  city, 
but  the  work  usually  done  by  a  contractor 
of  public  works,  since  the  policy  of  the 
city  of  Stamford  is  to  handle  practically 
all  its  own  work  along  this  line.  This,  of 
course,  involves  the  direction  of  large  in- 
terests and  the  employment  of  consider- 
able labor.  Mr.  Nash  has  on  an  average 
about  one  hundred  men  working  under 
him.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  the 
management  of  the  interests  placed  in  his 
hands,  being  keen-witted  and  at  the  same 
time  judicious,  showing  acute  discern- 
ment and  sound  farsighted  common  sense 
in  the  conservation  and  development  of 
the  natural  physical  advantages  and  re- 
sources of  the  city,  so  far  as  they  have 
come  into  his  hands.  In  his  twenty  years 
of  service  as  an  administrative  officer  of 
the  municipality,  during  which  time  its 
population  has  more  than  doubled,  many 
substantial  improvements  and  develop- 
ments have  been  made  in  the  various  lines 
of  public  work,  assuring  for  the  city  of 
Stamford  a  place  with  the  really  pro- 
gressive cities  of  the  country.  Mr.  Nash 
is  a  member  of  the  American  Society  of 
Civil  Engineers,  also  the  Connecticut 
Society  and  the  Yale  Engineering  Soci- 
ety ;  also  a  member  of  Union  Lodge,  No. 
5,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons; 
the  Suburban  Club  of  Stamford ;  the 
Stamford  Yacht  Club. 

Mr.  Nash  married,  April  6,  1893,  Anna 
May  Punzelt,  daughter  of  James  P.  Pun- 
zelt,  of  South  Norwalk.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  children :  Pauline,  born 
February    21,    1903;    Edward    Maynard, 


40 


*L 


*~^%^CrtXS\UZL~       I ,     jr&SL^dL 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


born  September  13,  1906.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nash  are  members  of  St.  John's  Episco- 
pal Church,  of  Stamford,  of  which  Mr. 
Nash  is  vestryman.  The  family  are  much 
sought  socially,  and  are  among  the  thor- 
oughly representative  people  of  the  city. 


NASH,  Edward  Colt, 

Business  Man. 

(VIII)  Edward  Hawks  Nash,  son  of 
Daniel  (2)  and  Rebecca  (Camp)  Nash 
(q.  v.),  was  born  August  6,  1809.  He  was 
a  miller  and  farmer  and  had  a  planing  and 
grist  mill.  He  was  a  director  of  the  West- 
port  Bank.  He  was  ambitious,  thrifty, 
and  gave  much  time  to  religious  work. 
With  his  brother,  Andrew  Camp  Nash,  he 
gave  the  land  and  a  large  amount  of 
money  which  made  possible  the  building 
of  new  Christ  Church  and  gave  it  an  en- 
dowment. On  October  9,  1836,  he  mar- 
ried (first)  Abigail  Gorham,  and  she  died 
January  16,  1861.  He  married  (second) 
September  17,  1861,  Margaret  Newkirk 
Williams,  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Ame- 
lia Williams,  and  she  died  in  1871.  Mrs. 
Margaret  Nash  was  a  descendant  of  Wil- 
liam Williams,  who  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tion under  Captain  Godfrey  and  Colonel 
Dimon. 

(IX)  Lloyd  Nash,  son  of  Edward 
Hawks  and  Margaret  Newkirk  (Wil- 
liams) Nash,  was  born  in  Westport,  Con- 
necticut, February  18,  1865.  He  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools,  and  sub- 
sequently followed  a  course  at  a  business 
college.  From  an  early  age  he  proved 
himself  a  very  good  mechanic,  and  al- 
though but  fifteen  years  old  he  was  in 
charge  of  the  grist  and  cider  mills  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  succeeded  the  latter  in 
the  management  of  these  in  later  years. 
Mr.  Nash  added  to  the  estates,  and  for 
many  years  was  among  the  most  progres- 
sive business  men  of  Westport.     He  was 


active  in  many  outside  matters,  in  indus- 
trial affairs,  and  also  in  public  affairs. 
Mr.  Nash  was  vice-president  of  the  West- 
port  &  Saugautuck  Street  Railway  Com- 
pany and  also  connected  with  the  street 
railroad  lines  in  Petersburg,  Virginia,  of 
which  he  was  vice-president;  he  was  also 
second  vice-president  of  the  Franklin 
Society  of  Home  Building  and  Home  Sav- 
ings in  New  York. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Nash  was  a  staunch 
Republican ;  on  several  occasions  he  was 
honored  with  public  office,  and  in  every 
instance  he  proved  himself  worthy  of  the 
choice  of  his  constituents.  In  1900  he  was 
representative,  during  which  time  he 
served  on  the  committee  on  banks ;  in 
1902  he  was  elected  State  senator,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  committee  on  Senate 
appointments  and  contingent  expenses. 
During  the  session  he  served  as  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  banks  and  the  com- 
mittee on  woman  suffrage.  Mr.  Nash  and 
his  family  attended  the  Episcopal  church, 
Westport,  and  for  many  years  he  served 
as  a  vestryman  of  that  church. 

Mr.  Nash  married,  April  6,  1885,  Char- 
lotte Flelen  Colt,  a  native  of  Exeter,  Ot- 
sego county,  New  York.  On  her  maternal 
side,  Mrs.  Nash  was  descended  from  John 
Pratt,  who  was  settled  in  New  England 
in  1632.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nash  were  the 
parents  of  four  children,  two  of  whom 
survived.  They  are :  Edward  Colt,  of 
further  mention ;  Louise  Helen,  born 
September  11,  1888,  married  W.  Clark 
Crossman,  and  resides  in  Westport,  Con- 
necticut.    Mr.  Nash  died  July  24,  1908. 

(X)  Edward  Colt  Nash,  son  of  Lloyd 
and  Charlotte  Helen  (Colt)  Nash,  was 
born  February  14,  1887.  He  was  educa- 
ted in  the  public  schools.  When  he  was 
about  twelve  years  of  age  he  was  placed 
in  the  Norwalk  University  and  there  spent 
six  years.  Two  years  were  then  spent 
at  the  Chase  School  for  Boys  in  Bridge- 


41 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


port,  Connecticut,  and  two  in  the  Pratt 
Institute,  Brooklyn,  New  York.  On  July 
20,  1908,  he  graduated  and  took  charge 
of  his  father's  estate.  He  had  just  then 
taken  up  the  ice  business,  which  was  pro- 
duced on  a  pond  on  his  own  farm,  which 
contains  about  seventy-five  acres.  He 
developed  this  business  to  double  its 
original  amount,  and  conducts  a  large 
wholesale  as  well  as  retail  business,  run- 
ning seven  auto  trucks,  covering  a  large 
territory  and  employing  about  a  dozen 
men.  Mr.  Nash  also  carries  on  the  cider 
business,  making  a  large  quantity  of  vine- 
gar. Since  191 1  he  has  also  engaged  in 
the  trucking  business,  having  motors  en- 
gaged in  long  distance  hauling. 

In  spite  of  the  demands  made  on  his 
time  by  his  business,  Mr.  Nash  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  military  matters  and 
other  public  affairs.  During  the  World 
War  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Guard, 
and  was  captain  of  the  Westport  Com- 
pany, disbanded  in  January,  1919.  He 
then  joined  the  reserves,  and  in  March, 
1920,  was  assigned  to  Company  I,  4th  In- 
fantry, Connecticut  State  Guard,  of  Nor- 
walk,  as  captain ;  was  appointed  major, 
February  1,  1921. 

Mr.  Nash  married  Anna  Barbara  Ebel, 
daughter  of  William  G.  Ebel,  of  Albany, 
New  York,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
four  children :  Harriet  C,  Anna  Barbara, 
Louise  Helen,  Lloyd  William.  Mr.  Nash 
and  his  family  attend  Christ  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  vestryman. 


WILKINS,  Albert  James, 

Deceased. 

The  terminations,  kin,  kind,  ling,  let, 
and  so  forth,  have  the  same  signification 
as  the  Latin,  genus,  meaning  race,  off- 
spring, or  children.  It  is  from  the  Ger- 
man, kind  (a  child),  the  diminutive  ter- 
mination,  kin,   is   derived,   and   thus   we 


have  the  names,  Watkin,  meaning  the  son 
of  Wat  or  Walter,  and  Wilkin,  the  son  of 
Will  or  William.  In  very  early  times  the 
Anglo-Saxons  affixed  this  termination  to 
the  father's  name,  and  always  we  find  the 
"s"  appended  by  the  Welsh.  The  name 
of  Wilkins  is  Welsh. 

Albert  James  Wilkins  was  born  in 
Utica,  New  York,  January  19,  1848,  son 
of  Luke  and  Elizabeth  (Downs)  Wilkins, 
natives  of  Wales.  Mr.  Wilkins  died  in 
Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  March  8,  1904. 
He  married,  October  5,  1870,  Eliza  Anna 
Nash,  a  scion  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
in  Fairfield  county  (see  Nash  VIII).  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilkins  were  the  parents  of  a 
daughter,  Mary  Amelia,  born  in  May, 
1872,  died  July  2,  1894. 


RAYMOND,  Thomas  I., 

Prominent  Business  Man. 

Active  in  business  and  general  affairs 
of  his  community  at  an  age  when  most 
men  seek  the  rest  and  ease  of  retirement, 
Thomas  I.  Raymond  was  called  from  his 
busy  life  on  May  8,  1920,  in  his  seventy- 
third  year.  The  widespread  sorrow  that 
was  felt  and  the  many  expressions  of  re- 
gard and  sympathy  that  poured  from  all 
quarters  were  the  tribute  of  his  fellows  to 
a  life  lived  purposefully  and  well,  to  the 
earnest  endeavors  of  a  man  to  perform  his 
duties  as  they  appeared  to  him,  and  to 
one  who  followed  high  ideals  in  every 
relation  of  life. 

The  name  of  Raymond  is  of  very  an- 
cient French  origin.  It  is  derived  from 
two  French  words,  rai,  signifying  a  beam 
of  light,  and  monde,  meaning  world.  The 
Latin  word  raimundus  is  its  exact  equiva- 
lent. The  history  of  the  French  family  of 
Raymond  is  intensely  interesting,  includ- 
ing, as  it  does,  a  long  line  of  Counts  of 
Toulouse.  Several  of  them  participated 
in  the  Crusades,  and  in  other  ways  they 


42 


^ JjJ, 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


played  important  roles  in  making  the  his- 
tory of  their  times.  It  is  said  that  in  the 
civilization  and  refinement  of  its  people 
the  County  of  Toulouse  and  its  indepen- 
dent lordships  early  in  the  twelfth  century 
far  surpassed  all  other  parts  of  Gaul.  Its 
citizens  enjoyed  religious  liberty  and  free- 
dom of  speech  ;  Jew,  Christian,  and  infidel 
lived  side  by  side  in  mutual  tolerance ; 
and  commerce,  literature,  the  arts,  and 
sciences  flourished  under  a  form  of  gov- 
ernment at  least  suggesting  the  repub- 
lican. The  Raymonds  supported  the 
Albigenses,  and  suffered  greatly  during 
the  persecutions  of  that  sect. 

According  to  Lower,  a  leading  author- 
ity en  the  origin  of  surnames,  Raymond 
Berenger,  who  went  down  under  the 
sword  of  the  first  Simon  de  Montfort, 
presumably  in  the  Albigensian  War,  bore 
one  of  the  earliest  double  names.  The 
names  of  Stephen  and  Pierre  Raymond 
are  found  on  the  rolls  of  the  first  Knights 
Hospitaler  of  the  Order  of  St.  John  of 
Jerusalem  early  in  the  twelfth  century. 
The  persecutions  of  the  Albigenses  scat- 
tered many  of  the  Raymond  families  to 
the  surrounding  countries,  and  some  of 
them  went  to  England  about  the  time  of 
the  Conquest.  Apparently  they  first  set- 
tled at  a  place  called  Raymond,  in  the 
Hundred  of  Wye,  in  Kent.  The  Essex 
families  of  the  name  claim  descent  from 
the  settlers  in  Kent. 

(I)  Richard  Raymond,  the  immigrant 
ancestor  of  the  family  here  under  consid- 
eration, probably  came  from  County  Sus- 
sex, England.  This  assumption  is  based 
on  the  fact  that  he  lived  in  the  territory 
included  in  the  Captain  John  Mason 
Colony  and  that  the  members  of  that 
colony  came  from  Sussex  county.  Rich- 
ard Raymond  was  made  a  freeman  in 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  May  14,  1634.  On 
January  2,  1636,  he  was  granted  half  an 
acre  of  land  at  Winter  Harbor  (now  Win- 


ter Island  in  Salem  Harbor)  "for  fishing 
trade  and  to  build  upon."  The  same  year 
he  received  a  grant  of  sixty  acres  at  what 
is  now  Manchester,  Massachusetts.  In 
1660  he  sold  a  one-fourth  interest  in  "the 
good  Ketch  called  the  Hopewell  of  Sa- 
lem." On  October  20,  1662,  he  bought  a 
house  and  lot  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut, 
and  it  is  probable  that  he  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Norwalk  soon  after  his  purchase. 
Two  years  later  he  moved  to  Saybrook. 
He  called  himself  a  mariner  and  engaged 
in  coastwise  trade  with  the  Dutch  and 
English  settlers  on  Manhattan  Island. 
It  is  also  said  that  he  made  voyages  to 
the  Barbadoes.  He  and  his  wife,  Judith, 
were  members  of  the  First  Church  at 
Salem  before  1636,  and  all  his  children 
but  John  were  baptized  there.  In  1676 
he  gave  by  will  all  of  his  lands  in  Norwalk 
"unto  those  children  which  my  son,  John 
Raymond,  allready  have  or  may  have,  by 
Mary  Raymond,  his  present  wife." 

(II)  John  Raymond,  son  of  Richard 
and  Judith  Raymond,  drew  lot  No.  21  in 
a  division  of  lots  in  the  winter  wheat  field 
made  in  Norwalk  in  1668.  He  also  re- 
ceived a  share  of  the  common  lands  di- 
vided in  1687.    He  married,  December  10, 

1664,  Mary  Betts,  born  in  Guilford,  in 
1646,  daughter  of  Thomas  Betts,  of  Nor- 
walk, who  had  only  recently  arrived  in 
the  plantation.  Thomas  Betts  was  born 
in  England,  in  1615-16.  He  was  enrolled, 
seventeenth  in  number,  on  the  Guilford, 
Connecticut,  settlers-register.  Accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  Mary,  he  came  to  Nor- 
walk about  1660.  His  wife  may  possibly 
have  been  married  before  her  Betts  union, 
as  in  the  will  of  Thomas  Betts,  Sr.,  exe- 
cuted May  10,  1688,  he  refers  to  "her 
children." 

(III)  John  (2)  Raymond,  son  of  John 
(1 )  and  Mary  (Betts)  Raymond,  was  born 
in    Norwalk,    Connecticut,    September   9, 

1665,  and  died  April  12,  1737.    He  was  an 


43 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


important  man  in  the  town,  captain  of  the 
train  band,  and  a  large  owner  of  real  es- 
tate. On  December  16,  1713,  he  was, 
with  Captain  Joseph  Piatt  and  Ensign 
James  Stewart,  appointed  a  committee 
to  make  a  settlement  of  a  highway  or 
road  to  Ridgefield,  "if  they  and  the  com- 
mittee of  Ridgefield  can  agree;  and  doth 
fully  impower  said  committee  to  make 
restitution  to  such  persons  that  said  high- 
way may  take  land  from  within  the  limits 
of  Norwalk  township." 

On  March  7,  1690,  he  married  Elizabeth 
St.  John,  daughter  of  Samuel  St.  John, 
granddaughter  of  Matthias  St.  John,  Sr. 
Her  mother  was  Elizabeth  (Hoyt)  St. 
John,  daughter  of  Walter  Hoyt.  Mat- 
thias St.  John  was  born  in  England,  and 
came  to  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  in 
1631-32.  The  record  of  the  marriage  of 
John  Raymond,  Jr.,  reads :  "He  took  to 
wife  and  was  married  unto  Elizabeth 
Sension,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Sension, 
on  the  7th  day  of  March,  1690." 

(IV)  Jabez  Raymond,  son  of  John  (2) 
and  Elizabeth  (St.  John)  Raymond,  was 
born  April  1,  1705.  He  married  Rebecca 
Piatt,  born  April  9,  1713,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Rebecca  Piatt.  He  died  at  a 
good  age,  his  will,  drawn  August  26,  1783, 
being  court-proven  August  3,  1789.  His 
wife  evidently  survived  him  but  a  few 
months,  as  her  estate  was  inventoried 
March  26,  1790.  Their  heirs  were  Jo- 
siah,  their  son,  and  the  children  of  their 
deceased  daughter,  Ann,  wife  of  Samuel 
Piatt,  son  of  John  Piatt,  3rd.  They  ap- 
pear to  have  lost  an  unmarried  daughter, 
Hannah,  in  1770. 

(V)  Josiah  Raymond,  son  of  Jabez  and 
Rebecca  (Piatt)  Raymond,  married,  No- 
bember  5,  1765,  Molly  Merwine,  in  Nor- 
walk. She  was  from  Greenfield  Hill  and 
belonged  originally,  it  seems,  to  the  New 
Haven  family  of  that  name.  She  was  but 
eighteen   years  of  age  at  marriage,  but 


brought  with  her  to  her  Norwalk  home 
after  her  marriage  several  of  the  Green- 
field slaves,  who  worked  in  and  out  of 
doors  and  were  a  domestic  power. 

(VI)  Thomas  Raymond,  son  of  Josiah 
and  Molly  (Merwine)  Raymond,  married, 
March  1,  1797,  Eunice  Meeker,  of  Green- 
field, and  they  lived  in  Ridgefield  in  the 
early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

(VII)  William  Meeker  Raymond,  son 
of  Thomas  and  Eunice  (Meeker)  Ray- 
mond, was  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut, 
in  1809,  died  in  1887.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  grew  to  manhood 
on  the  home  farm,  and  all  his  life  was  a 
husbandman.  When  the  time  came  for 
him  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  he 
bought  land  adjoining  the  homestead,  and 
there  built  a  house  which  sheltered  him 
all  his  days.  A  man  of  quiet,  unassum- 
ing manners,  he  took  the  interest  of  a 
good  citizen  in  public  affairs  and  shirked 
no  duty  that  devolved  upon  him  as  a  citi- 
zen or  neighbor.  The  attractions  of 
public  office  held  no  lure  for  him  and  he 
never  accepted  political  office.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  E.  Throop,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Throop,  of  Easton,  Connecticut,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren, who  grew  to  maturity:  1.  William 
T.,  born  November  19,  1839,  died  in  May, 
1918.  a  lifelong  resident  of  Norwalk.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and 
when  twenty  years  of  age  started  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world.  His  first  em- 
ployment was  in  a  hotel  in  Westport, 
where  he  acquired  sufficient  knowledge  of 
the  business  to  open  a  hotel  of  his  own. 
He  continued  in  that  business  until  1871, 
when  he  was  admitted  to  a  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Thomas  I.,  who  was 
already  establshed  in  business.  The 
firm,  Raymond  Brothers,  continued  until 
the  death  of  the  elder  brother,  who  bore 
his  share  of  the  burdens  of  the  business 
until  his  death.     Like  his  father,  he  had 


44 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


no  taste  for  political  life,  but  he  was  ever 
ready  to  give  of  his  time,  means  and  en- 
ergy in  furthering  any  movement  that 
promised  to  advance  the  interests  of  the 
community.  He  married  Josephine  A. 
Lockwood,  daughter  of  George  Lock- 
wood,  of  Wilton.  Mrs.  Raymond's  death 
occurred  about  two  years  before  her  hus- 
band's. 2.  Thomas  I.,  mentioned  below. 
3.  Henry  W.,  deceased.  4.  Sarah  Eliza, 
married  H.  R.  Gorham.  5.  Ruth  Zelda, 
married  Robert  W.  Keeler,  of  Wilton, 
Connecticut,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Meeker  Raymond  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church. 

(VIII)  Thomas  I.  Raymond,  son  of 
William  Meeker  and  Sarah  E.  (Throop) 
Raymond,  was  born  August  17,  1846.  He 
received  his  formal  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Norwalk,  Meeker's  private 
school  in  Westport,  and  Wheeler  Insti- 
tute in  Easton,  Connecticut.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  left  the  home  farm  and  en- 
tered the  lumber  office  of  C.  F.  Tolles,  in 
South  Norwalk.  After  about  eighteen 
months  he  left  Mr.  Tolles  to  become  a 
teller  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  South 
Norwalk,  a  position  he  filled  for  only  six 
months,  when  an  opportunity  then  pre- 
sented to  become  a  teller  in  the  Fourth 
National  Bank  of  New  York  City.  This 
offer  he  accepted  and  he  continued  in  the 
employ  of  that  bank  until  1868,  when  he 
returned  to  South  Norwalk,  having  mar- 
ried the  previous  year  Elizabeth  A.  Tolles, 
the  daughter  of  his  former  employer.  He 
next  established  himself  in  the  coal  trade 
on  his  own  account,  purchasing  the  busi- 
ness of  David  H.  Webb.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  a  long  and  most  successful 
business  career,  during  which  time  Mr. 
Raymond  was  actively  identified  with 
more  enterprises,  perhaps,  than  any  other 
man  in  his  city.  Soon  after  embarking  in 
the  coal  business,  he  began  shipping  farm 


products  by  water  to  various  points  along 
the  coast  as  far  South  as  Jacksonville, 
Florida.  While  that  business  was  profit- 
able from  the  beginning,  it  was  aban- 
doned in  about  a  year  in  order  that  Mr. 
Raymond  might  give  more  attention  to 
his  coal  business  and  to  the  other  lines  of 
merchandise  which  he  was  handling  in 
connection  therewith,  flour,  feed,  grain, 
and  a  wide  range  of  building  materials. 
His  business  was  carried  on  with  splendid 
success  until  1919,  when  he  sold  out  to 
the  Norwalk  Coal  and  Supply  Company. 
During  the  years  covering  his  business 
operations,  Mr.  Raymond  was  expanding, 
until  at  his  death  it  was  one  of  large  pro- 
portions. A  special  line  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  several  years  with  good  results 
was  the  purchase  of  houses  and  buildings 
in  an  undesirable  condition,  and  restoring 
them  often  in  an  entirely  remodeled  con- 
dition to  most  desirable  residences. 

Mr.  Raymond  was  connected  with 
many  successful  business  enterprises,  and 
during  his  career  served  as  president 
of  the  Mianus  Manufacturing  Company, 
treasurer  of  the  Norwalk  Manufacturing 
Company,  manager  of  the  Norwalk 
Realty  and  Improvement  Company,  treas- 
urer of  the  Norwalk  Steamboat  Com- 
pany, trustee  and  chairman  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Norwalk  Trust 
Company,  director  and  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Norwalk  Lock 
Company,  and  treasurer  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Tidewater  Coal  Dealers'  Association. 
Besides  these  personal  interests,  which 
would  seem  to  consume  the  time  and  en- 
ergy of  any  ordinary  man,  Mr.  Raymond 
showed  more  than  a  passive  concern  in 
matters  affecting  the  public  good.  With 
Dr.  J.  G.  Gregory  he  founded  the  Nor- 
walk Hospital  and  was  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  board  of  di- 
rectors. He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the   South   Norwalk   Library   and   was  a 


45 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


member  of  its  board  of  trustees  for  many 
years.  He  was  secretary  of  the  South 
Norvvalk  Relief  Association,  secretary  of 
the  South  Norwalk  Improvement  Society, 
president  of  the  Norwalk  Historical  and 
Memorial  Library  Association,  inspector 
to  the  Empire  Trust  Company  of  New 
York,  trustee  of  the  Epworth  Home  for 
Working  Girls  in  New  York  City,  and 
served  as  president  of  the  Merchants'  & 
Manufacturers'  Association,  of  Norwalk. 
His  public  service  was  to  his  city  as  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council  of  the 
old  city  of  South  Norwalk  during  a  period 
of  five  years,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  for  about  twelve  years,  sev- 
eral of  which  he  was  chairman  of  the 
board.  He  was  called  into  the  State  serv- 
ice, and  for  five  years  was  auditor  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
which  he  served  as  trustee  since  1875, 
acting  as  chairman  of  the  board  for  five 
years,  and  was  a  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  of  the  church  for  twenty 
years.  He  is  affiliated  with  Butler  Lodge, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  his 
clubs,  the  Norwalk,  South  Norwalk,  the 
Knob  Outing,  Pine  Ledge,  and  the  Nor- 
walk Country. 

Mr.  Raymond  married  (first)  Eliza- 
abeth  A.  Tolles,  who  died  in  1893,  leaving 
three  children:     1.  Martha  P.,  wife  of  M. 

D.  Randall,  and  mother  of  a  daughter, 
Elizabeth.  2.  L.  May,  formerly  the  wife 
of  Charles  D.  Burnes,  of  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, and  mother  of  two  sons,  Dudley 

E.  and  Raymond.  3.  Elsie,  wife  of  David 
Albrecht,  of  Stamford,  Connecticut.  Other 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raymond  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Raymond  married  (second) 
Carolyn  Van  Cleft,  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Asa  Jessup  Van  Cleft,  D.  D.,  of  the  Wyo- 
ming Conference,  at  Oneonta,  New  York, 
and  Elizabeth  Gore  (Wood)  Van  Cleft, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  John  B.  Wood,  one 


of  the  first  settlers  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Penn- 
sylvania. Mrs.  Raymond  is  a  descendant 
of  the  judges,  Obidiah  Gore,  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  Christopher  Gore,  who  was  sent 
by  this  country  to  Europe  as  a  diplomat, 
and  was  a  friend  of  General  Lafayette. 

Once  when  asked  what  his  particular 
hobby  was,  Mr.  Raymond  replied :  "Any- 
thing I  undertake."  On  another  occasion 
he  said :  "The  poorest  boy  if  honest  and 
industrious  can  achieve  his  ambition." 
These  remarks  furnish  the  keynote  to  Mr. 
Raymond's  success  in  life,  a  success  which 
rested  upon  a  secure  foundation,  upright 
character,  ability  to  concentrate,  and  inde- 
fatigable industry.  Although  for  half  a 
century  his  working  days  averaged  from 
fifteen  to  eighteen  hours,  in  his  seventy- 
third  year  he  exhibited  a  physical  and 
mental  alertness  which  a  man  twenty- 
five  years  younger  might  envy.  His  friends 
were  legion  and  he  held  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Such  was  the  life  and  work  of  Thomas 
I.  Raymond,  every  page  of  his  book  of 
life  an  open  one,  every  act  one  of  justice 
and  right.  The  work  of  a  community  con- 
tinues despite  the  changes  and  vicissi- 
tudes that  come  to  smaller  groups,  but 
men  in  all  walks  of  life  paused  to  mark 
with  respect  and  honor  the  passing  of  an 
associate  who  had  lived  long  and  worthily 
among  them,  and  the  loss  of  his  compan- 
ionship and  counsel  will  long  persist. 
Among  the  numerous  resolutions  passed 
by  the  organizations  with  which  Mr.  Ray- 
mond was  identified  were  the  following: 

Whereas,  Our  associate,  co-worker  and  di- 
rector, Mr.  Thomas  I.  Raymond,  for  whom  we 
entertained  profound  feelings  of  regard,  respect 
and  affection,  has  been  taken  from  us  and  called 
to  a  higher  life,  and, 

Whereas,  We  shall  cherish  the  influence  and 
example  of  his  life  through  the  coming  years,  and, 

Whereas,  His  going  will  create  a  deep  void, 
not  only  in  the  board  but  in  the  entire  commu- 
nity; now,  therefore, 


46 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Be  it  Resolved,  That  in  his  death  we  have  all 
experienced  an  irreparable  loss ;  that  we  sincerely 
value  the  memory  of  his  loyal  spirit  and  his  un- 
tiring efforts  to  promote  all  enterprises  which  in- 
ured to  the  public  good;  that  we  prize  the  knowl- 
edge of  having  been  so  closely  associated  with  a 
man  of  his  courage,  sound  judgment,  broad  vis- 
ion, civic  pride,  and  one  whose  standard  of  busi- 
ness life  can  well  be  followed  by  all  those  who 
consider  honest  and  upright  dealings  the  only 
foundation  of  enduring  success  in  life,  and, 

Be  it  Further  Resolved,  That  this  resolution  be 
incorporated  in  the  minutes  of  this  meeting  and 
that  a  copy  of  the  same  be  sent  to  Mrs.  Raymond. 

The  Nor  walk  Realty  &  Improvement  Co., 
William  L.  Young,  Secretary. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions 
were  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Board 
of  the  South  Norwalk  Trust  Company  at 
a  regular  meeting  held  May  13,  1920: 

Thomas  I.  Raymond,  Esq.,  a  lifetime  resident 
of  this  city,  died  at  his  home  on  the  8th  inst.  Mr. 
Raymond  has  been  identified  with  this  company 
since  its  organization  as  stockholder,  director  and 
member  of  the  executive  committee,  and  his  judg- 
ment on  real  estate  values  and  general  banking 
matters  has  been  of  material  assistance  in  the  com- 
pany's progress.  In  recognition,  thereof,  and  of 
his  sterling  qualities,  be  it  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  hereby  express  our  appre- 
ciation of  his  identification  with  us,  of  the  serv- 
ices he  has  rendered  the  company,  the  loss  we 
have  suffered  through  his  death,  and  extend  our 
sincere  sympathy  to  his  family  in  their  bereave- 
ment, and 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 
sent  to  his  widow. 

Richard  H.  Golden,     Joseph  R.  Taylor, 
Edwin  O.  Keeler,         David  H.  Miller, 
Charles  E.  Hoyt,        Matthew  Carbutt. 

The  following  resolutions  were  passed 
by  the  directors  of  The  Mianus  Manufac- 
turing Company : 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  God  to  remove  the 
burdens  of  this  life  from  our  President  and 
friend,  Mr.  Thomas  I.  Raymond,  and  grant  him 
a  life  eternal  in  the  Heavenly  Kingdom,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  our  sincere  sympathy 
to  the  family  who  has  lost  husband,  father  and 
protector;  that  we  mourn  his  loss  as  that  of  an 
intimate  friend  and  counsellor,  who  endeared  him- 


self to  each  of  us  through  the  kindness,  cour- 
tesy and  manly  qualities  exhibited  by  him  during 
our  long  association  with  him  in  business  life. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  signed  by 
the  surviving  directors  and  forwarded  to  the  be- 
reaved family,  and  that  a  copy  of  same  be  spread 
upon  the  records  of  this  company. 

Miner  D.  Randall, 
Fred  A.  Springer, 
N.  P.  Bishop, 
Edwin  O.  Keeler, 
Joseph  Brush, 
Henry  J.  Warren. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Governing  Board  of 
the  Norwalk  Country  Club  the  following 
resolution  was  passed : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Thomas  I.  Ray- 
mond, our  vice-president  and  associate,  this  Board 
feels  a  sense  of  great  loss.  It  will  miss  the  ben- 
efit of  his  keen  insight,  sound  judgment  and  in- 
terest in  the  welfare  of  this  Club. 

The  Secretary  is  instructed  to  spread  this  res- 
olution on  the  Minutes  of  the  Club  and  send  a 
copy  to  Mrs.  Raymond. 

Seymour  Curtis, 
Secretary. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the 
Norwalk  Manufacturing  Company  the 
following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

IN  MEMORIAM. 

Inasmuch,  As  it  has  pleased  the  Almighty  God 
to  summon  home  that  good  man  and  faithful 
Christian,  Thomas  I.  Raymond, 

Whereas,  His  high  business  ideals,  his  judg- 
ment in  deciding  matters  of  importance,  his  cour- 
age in  helping  to  develop  The  Norwalk  Mfg.  Co., 
and  his  ever  readiness  to  do  all  he  could  for  the 
Company,  are  a  cherished  memory,  and  an  ever- 
lasting inspiration  to  the  directors  of  The  Nor- 
walk Mfg.  Co. 

Whereas,  During  our  association  with  him  as 
treasurer  of  The  Norwalk  Mfg.  Co.,  he  implanted 
in  the  organization  the  principles  of  dealing  justly 
to  all  with  whom  we  do  business,  and  whereas 
this  principle  of  his  life  stands  to-day  a  memorial 
of  the  work  to  which  he  devoted  his  energy  and 
his  manhood,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  directors  of  The  Norwalk 
Mfg.  Co.  do  hereby  express  our  loving  regard  for 
the  memory  of  Thomas  I.  Raymond,  and  our  sor- 
row at  his  illness  and  death. 


47 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


That  this  action  be  placed  upon  the  minutes  of 
the  Company,  and  that  a  copy  be  sent  to  his  be- 
reaved family. 

Charles  E.  Dunneback, 
Secretary. 

At  a  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Norwalk  Lock 
Company,  held  on  May  12,  1920,  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  removal  by  death  of  Mr. 
Raymond,  who  has  been  associated  with  this  com- 
pany as  director  since  1904,  we  have  lost  a  wise 
counsellor  and  loyal  friend,  and  one  who  always 
manifested  a  deep  interest  in  its  affairs. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  incorpor- 
ated in  the  minutes  of  this  meeting,  and  the  Sec- 
retary be  directed  to  send  the  family  of  Mr.  Ray- 
mond a  copy  thereof.         George  R.  Barnum, 

Secretary. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Official  Board  of 
the  South  Norwalk  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  held  May  18,  1920,  the  following 
resolutions  were  drawn  and  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  with  great  sorrow  that  we 
are  called  upon  to  record  the  death  of  such  a  val- 
uable member  of  our  Official  Board  as  Brother 
Thomas  I.  Raymond.  Few  men  have  attained 
the  record  that  Brother  Raymond  has  for  more 
than  fifty  years.  He  was  ever  ready  to  bear  the 
burdens  of  the  positions  he  held.  For  many  years 
he  was  Superintendent  of  our  Sunday  School; 
served  long  and  faithfully  as  a  Trustee  of  the 
Church  and  on  most  of  the  Church's  important 
Committees.  With  wisdom  and  steadfastness  of 
purpose  he  was  always  ready  to  bear  his  full  share 
of  responsibility.  His  devotion  to  the  South  Nor- 
walk Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  very  sin- 
cere and  very  marked  in  his  daily  life  and  char- 
acter, and  his  death  causes  a  great  loss  to  our 
Church.  We  wish  to  convey  to  the  family  of  our 
deceased  brother  our  deep  feeling  of  sadness 
and  sympathy  in  this  hour  of  their  bereavement — 
and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  resolution  .be  en- 
tered upon  the  records  of  the  Church,  and  a  copy 
of  the  same  transmitted  to  the  family  of  our  de- 
ceased brother. 

Charles  F.  Tristram, 
Charles  E.  Hoyt, 
John  L.  Allen, 

Committee. 


TOWNE,  Henry  Robinson, 

Engineer,  Manufacturer. 

In  the  history  of  Connecticut  indus- 
tries, the  name  of  Henry  R.  Towne  will 
ever  hold  a  foremost  place.  Locating  his 
plant  in  Stamford  long  before  that  place 
became  a  city  and  manufacturing  center, 
he  did  more  perhaps  than  any  other  man 
of  his  time  to  give  the  town  a  world-wide 
reputation.  During  iTis  residence  there 
Mr.  Towne  was  a  leader  in  all  movements 
to  improve  the  material,  moral  and  spir- 
itual phases  of  the  city's  life.  He  has 
proven  himself  a  worthy  scion  of  one  of 
New  England's  pioneer  families,  and  by 
his  own  achievements  has  added  fresh 
luster  to  an  honored  family  name. 

Towne  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  English 
surnames.  The  most  common  derivation 
of  family  names  is  from  places  of  resi- 
dence. This  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
name  of  William  de  la  Towne,  who  in  the 
year  1274  was  a  resident  of  the  village  of 
Alvely  in  Shropshire.  In  course  of  time 
the  preposition  and  article  were  dropped, 
and  the  name,  used  in  a  descriptive  way 
at  first,  became  finally  a  patronymic.  A 
town  originally  signified  a  collection  of 
houses  inclosed  by  a  hedge,  palisade  or 
wall  for  safety. 

(I)  William  Towne,  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  America,  was  born  (according 
to  a  family  record  that  has  been  pre- 
served) in  1600,  and  came  to  America 
from  Bristol,  England,  in  1630.  His  age 
is  further  attested  by  his  testimony  in  a 
case  tried  in  the  Salem  Court  in  1660  that 
he  was  three-score  years  old.  On  March 
25,  1620,  he  married  Joanna  Blessing,  in 
the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas,  in  the  town 
of  Yarmouth,  England,  and  their  first  six 
children  were  baptized  there.  He  is  first 
found  on  record  in  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
in  connection  with  a  grant  of  land  in  1640. 
He  was  referred  to  as  "Goodman"  Towne 


48 


Jfi^^^y     <f\  .   J^trv*sv\Aj \ 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


in  a  court  judgment  given  in  his  favor 
the  same  year.  In  1651  he  purchased  land 
and  a  house  in  Topsfield,  Massachusetts, 
and  the  following  year  sold  his  property 
in  Salem  and  bought  more  land  in  Tops- 
field.  There  he  died  in  1672,  his  widow 
surviving  him  until  1682. 

(II)  Edmund  Towne,  son  of  William 
Towne,  was  baptized  June  28,  1628,  in 
the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas.  He  was  a 
member  of  a  committee  from  the  town  of 
Topsfield,  who  during  King  Philip's  War 
petitioned  the  General  Court  to  form  mil- 
itary companies  to  protect  the  inhabit- 
ants from  the  Indians  while  at  work.  His 
estate  was  inventoried,  May  3,  1678.  His 
widow's  will  was  proved,  December  16, 
1717,  and  in  it  she  said  she  was  very  aged. 

(III)  Joseph  Towne,  son  of  Edmund 
Towne,  was  born  in  Topsfield,  Massachu- 
setts, September  2,  1661.  On  August  10, 
1687,  ne  married  Eamy  (sometimes  Ru- 
hama)  Smith,  born  August  16,  1668,  and 
died  February  22,  1756,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Smith. 

(IV)  Nathan  Towne,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Eamy  (Smith)  Towne,  was  born  in 
1693.  He  married  Phoebe  Curtis  and  re- 
sided for  a  time  in  Boxford,  Massachu- 
setts, from  whence  he  removed  to  An- 
dover.  There  his  wife  died  January  5, 
1762,  and  he  survived  her  but  a  short 
time. 

(V)  Nathan  (2)  Towne,  son  of  Na- 
than (1)  and  Phoebe  (Curtis)  Towne, 
was  born  April  25,  1720.  He  married 
Mary  Poole,  in  Boxford,  Massachusetts, 
and  died  in  Andover. 

(VI)  Benjamin  Towne,  son  of  Nathan 
(2)  and  Mary  (Poole)  Towne,  was  born 
February  28,  1747.  He  married  (first) 
Mehitable  Chandler,  born  August  9,  1744, 
and  died  January  23,  1788,  daughter  of 
Josiah  and  Sarah  (Parker)  Chandler.  She 
was  of  the  sixth  generation  in  descent 
from  William  Chandler,  who  with  his  wife 

Conn-5— 4 


Annis  and  four  children  settled  in  Rox- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  in  1637.  Benjamin 
Towne  died  in  Methuen,  Massachusetts, 
in  1825. 

(VII)  John  Towne,  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Mehitable  (Chandler)  Towne,  was 
born  April  3,  1787.  Thus  far  the  family 
had  been  small  farmers  and  millers,  but 
he  departed  from  the  vocation  of  his  an- 
cestors. In  many  ways  John  Towne  was 
a  remarkable  man.  He  had  great  energy 
and  perseverance  combined  with  rare  in- 
genuity, refined  tastes  and  a  brilliant  in- 
tellect. He  left  home  early  to  seek  a 
fortune  and  he  succeeded.  He  became  a 
teacher  of  penmanship,  following  that 
profession  in  various  places.  In  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  he  met  Henry  Robinson, 
an  Englishman  whose  sister  he  married. 
These  men  formed  a  partnership  and 
continued  in  business  together  for  a  few 
years.  Mr.  Towne  later  withdrew  from 
the  firm  and  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania. There  he  bought  land,  built  a 
large  house  and  started  a  large  fruit  farm. 
Soon  after  he  also  embarked  in  the  trans- 
portation business,  owning  several  river 
steamboats  which  plied  between  Pitts- 
burgh and  New  Orleans.  At  the  same 
time  he  engaged  in  the  sugar  and  cotton 
commission  business.  During  his  activi- 
ties in  these  ventures,  his  wife  superin- 
tended the  cultivation  of  the  farm.  In 
1833  his  brother-in-law.  Henry  Robinson, 
who  was  then  owner  of  the  gas  works  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  offered  Mr.  Towne 
the  position  of  superintendent.  Accepting 
the  offer,  he  removed  to  that  city  and  re- 
sided there  until  1840.  Having  accumu- 
lated considerable  wealth,  he  retired  from 
business  and  became  a  resident  of  Phil- 
adelphia, Pennsylvania.  Nine  years  later 
he  purchased  a  beautiful  home  near  that 
city,  where  he  died  July  24,  185 1.  In  his 
later  years  he  was  able  to  indulge  his  love 
of  art  by  purchasing  many  fine  paintings, 


49 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


largely  the  work  of  well  known  American 
artists,  many  of  whom  were  numbered 
among  his  personal  friends.  He  married 
Sarah  Robinson,  a  native  of  Coventry, 
England. 

(VIII)  John  Henry  Towne,  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Robinson)  Towne,  was  born 
in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  February 
20,  1818.  He  was  educated  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  and  early  evinced  great 
natural  talent  for  mechanics.  When  yet 
a  young  man,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  S.  V.  Merrick  (later  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad),  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  Merrick  &  Towne 
they  established  in  Philadelphia  what  be- 
came in  its  day  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  known  engineering  plants  in  the 
country.  The  business  is  still  carried  on 
under  the  name  of  the  Southwark  Foun- 
dry. Among  the  notable  work  done  by 
that  firm  was  the  building  of  the  engines, 
designed  by  Captain  John  Ericcson,  for 
the  United  States  steamship,  "Prince- 
ton," which  was  the  first  war  vessel  to  be 
equipped  with  a  screw  propeller.  In  1848 
Mr.  Towne  withdrew  from  the  firm  and 
engaged  in  business  as  a  consulting  engi- 
neer. He  built  gas  works  in  New  Bed- 
ford, Massachusetts,  and  Savannah,  Geor- 
gia. He  also  became  active  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railroad.  He  helped  to  organize  and 
build  the  North  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  of 
which  he  became  vice-president.  In  1861 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  I.  P.  Morris 
under  the  firm  name  of  I.  P.  Morris, 
Towne  &  Company,  which  owned  ana 
operated  the  Port  Richmond  Iron  Works. 
Later  that  plant  became  part  of  the  pres- 
ent Cramp  shipyards.  During  the  Civil 
War  the  firm  built  the  engines  for  many 
large  war  vessels  and  monitors.  Like  his 
father,  he  was  a  great  lover  of  nature, 
music  and  art.  He  left  a  large  bequest  to 
the   University   of    Pennsylvania    for   its 


scientific  department,  which  thereupon 
was  named  the  "Towne  Scientific  School" 
in  his  honor.  His  death  occurred  April 
7,  1875. 

Mr.  Towne  married  Maria  Rebecca 
Tevis,  born  May  30,  1822,  daughter  of 
Joshua  and  Rebecca  Risteau  (Carman) 
Tevis.  Joshua  Tevis  was  a  prominent 
Philadelphia  merchant.  Rebecca  Risteau 
Carman  was  born  in  1784,  daughter  of 
Robert  North  Carman,  who  was  born  in 
1756.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Captain 
Robert  and  Katherine  (Risteau)  North. 
The  latter  was  born  in  1708,  and  was  a 
granddaughter  of  John  Risteau,  a  Hu- 
guenot refugee  who  settled  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  where  he  becamft  high  sheriff. 
John  Henry  and  Maria  Rebecca  (Tevis) 
Towne  became  the  parents  of  two  sons, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the 
other,  Henry  Robinson  Towne,  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  of  two  daugh- 
ters. 

(IX)  Henry  Robinson  Towne,  son  of 
John  Henry  and  Maria  Rebecca  (Tevis) 
Towne,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, August  28,  1844.  He  was  pre- 
pared for  college  at  private  schools,  and 
matriculated  at  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, which  later  conferred  on  him 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  At  the  close 
of  the  college  year  in  1862,  Mr.  Towne 
went  into  the  drafting-room  of  the  Port 
Richmond  Iron  Works.  There  the  me- 
chanical bent  of  his  mind  soon  became 
apparent,  and  after  less  than  two  years 
at  the  drafting  table  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  government  work  in  the  shops 
engaged  in  repairing  the  gunboat  "Mas- 
sachusetts." That  was  in  1863.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  Mr.  Towne,  though  only 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  was  sent  to 
the  navy  yard  in  Charlestown,  Massa- 
chusetts, to  assemble  and  erect  the  en- 
gines which  the  Port  Richmond  Iron 
Works  had  built  for  the  monitor  "Mon- 


50 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


adnock."  From  there  he  went  to  the 
navy  yard  in  Portsmouth,  New  Hamp- 
shire, to  superintend  the  erecting  and 
testing  of  the  machinery  of  the  monitor 
"Agamenticus"  (whose  name  was  later 
changed  to  "Terror"),  and  from  there  he 
was  sent  to  the  Philadelphia  navy  yard 
to  do  similar  work  in  connection  with  the 
cruiser  "Pushmataha."  These  were  great 
responsibilities  for  one  so  young,  but  they 
served  to  develop  his  mechanical  and  ex- 
ecutive abilities.  Mr.  Towne  was  only 
twenty-one  when,  as  acting  superintend- 
ent, he  was  placed  in  general  charge  of 
the  shops  of  the  Port  Richmond  Iron 
Works.  All  this  practical  experience 
emphasized  to  Mr.  Towne's  mind  the  fun- 
damental necessity  of  a  thorough  train- 
ing in  engineering  science,  a  department 
of  learning  that  "had  not  in  those  days 
received  anything  like  the  attention  now 
given  to  it.  Accordingly,  soon  after  peace 
was  declared,  Mr.  Towne  resumed  the 
study  of  engineering  under  the  tuition  of 
Robert  Briggs,  a  noted  civil  engineer  of 
Philadelphia,  whom  he  accompanied  later 
on  an  engineering  trip  to  Great  Britain, 
Belgium  and  France.  Mr.  Towne  re- 
mained in  Paris  to  pursue  a  special  course 
in  physics  at  the  Sorbonne.  Upon  his 
return  to  the  United  States,  Mr.  Towne 
resumed  his  association  with  Mr.  Briggs 
and  for  another  year  engaged  in  study  and 
experimental  work.  During  this  time  he 
carried  out  a  series  of  experiments  in 
connection  with  leather  belting,  the  re- 
sults of  which  were  accepted  as  standard 
authority  for  the  following  twenty  years. 
He  next  entered  the  shops  of  William 
Sellers  &  Company,  manufacturers  of  the 
Giffard  injector,  where  he  still  further 
broadened  his  mechanical  knowledge  and 
experience. 

In  July,  1868,  Mr.  Towne  became  ac- 
quainted with  Linus  Yale,  Jr.,  and  thus 
in  an  almost  casual  way  was  born  a  busi- 


ness that  was  to  make  the  names  of  both 
men  known  the  world  over,  and  to  be- 
come one  of  Connecticut's  principal  in- 
dustries, contributing  greatly  to  the  mate- 
rial up-building  of  the  State.  Mr.  Yale 
was  a  talented  and  ingenious  inventor, 
who  had  originated  many  designs  for 
locks  that  were  a  radical  departure  from 
any  then  in  use.  He  was  conducting  his 
business  in  Shelburne  Falls,  Massachu- 
setts, where  about  thirty-five  men  were 
employed.  At  that  time  the  principal 
product  was  bank  locks.  Mr.  Towne  fore- 
saw the  wonderful  possibilities  in  Mr. 
Yale's  invention  of  the  "cylinder"  lock, 
and  suggested  a  partnership,  in  which  he 
should  assume  charge  of  the  manufac- 
turing end  of  the  business,  thus  leaving 
Mr.  Yale  free  to  do  further  experimental 
work  and  inventing.  Accordingly,  The 
Yale  &  Towne  Manufacturing  Company 
was  organized,  in  October,  1868,  with  Mr. 
Yale  as  president,  and  the  business  was 
removed  to  Stamford,  Connecticut.  This 
association,  which  in  a  brief  time  had  de- 
veloped into  a  warm  friendship,  was  sud- 
denly brought  to  an  end  by  the  untimely 
death  of  Linus  Yale,  Jr.,  December  25, 
1868.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  presi- 
dency by  Mr.  Towne.  Trained  as  an  en- 
gineer, endowed  with  a  natural  aptitude 
for  organization,  and  for  executive  man- 
agement, broad  of  vision,  ambitious,  with 
a  determination  that  brooked  no  obstacle, 
and  blessed  with  splendid  mental  and 
physical  poise,  Mr.  Towne  assumed  a  task 
before  which  most  men  would  quail.  His 
natural  mechanical  instinct,  backed  by  his 
technical  and  practical  training,  led  him 
to  plan  and  build  for  the  large  and  per- 
manent future  which  he  saw  was  possible 
to  the  business,  and  to  lay  a  broad  and 
deep  foundation  of  scientific  manufactur- 
ing methods. 

For  the  following  ten  years,  Mr.  Towne 
devoted  himself  with  indefatigable  indus- 


51 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


try  to  broadening  the  company's  line  of 
products,  to  the  design  of  machine  tools 
especially  adapted  to  manufacture  the 
unique  Yale  lock,  to  working  out  the  most 
efficient  and  effective  factory  methods 
and  processes,  to  a  wider  application  of 
the  principles  introduced  by  Mr.  Yale, 
and  to  make  improvements  in  the  design 
and  mechanical  excellence  of  the  com- 
pany's product.  Besides  doing  all  this, 
the  management  of  the  executive  and 
selling  departments  in  the  early  days  of 
the  business  devolved  upon  Mr.  Towne. 
With  him  there  was  never  any  question 
of  policy — there  was  only  one  path  to 
pursue,  namely,  to  make  every  product 
mechanically  right  for  its  intended  use, 
and  to  sell  it  at  a  price  which  permitted 
of  the  maintenance  of  this  quality.  The 
path  thus  chosen  led  to  open  and  square 
dealing  without  variation,  regardless  of 
all  exigencies.  The  business  prospered. 
Beginning  in  1868  with  about  thirty-five 
employees  and  a  plant  that,  including 
brass  foundry  and  power-house,  com- 
prised only  fifteen  thousand  feet  of  floor 
space,  the  plant  has  grown  until  it  now 
occupies  an  area  of  twenty-four  acres, 
with  about  five  acres  of  ground  in  re- 
serve to  meet  the  requirements  of  future 
development.  The  combined  floor  areas 
of  buildings  in  1918  exceeded  twenty-five 
acres.  The  value  of  the  plant  and  equip- 
ment is  indicated  by  the  amount  of  in- 
surance carried,  $6,000,000,  which  also 
covers  materials  on  hand,  the  total  in- 
vested capital  exceeding  $15,000,000.  The 
number  of  employees  is  normally  about 
4,000,  and  during  the  War  years,  1917-19, 
exceeded  6,500.  Their  welfare  is  looked 
after  by  a  department  known  as  the 
Industrial  Relations  Department,  which 
neglects  no  detail  that  will  promote  their 
safety,  sanitation,  health  and  comfort. 

Mr.  Towne  was  one  of  the  pioneer  man- 
ufacturers of  the  country  in  thus  looking 


after  the  welfare  of  employees,  his  efforts 
along  this  line  beginning  in  1869,  when 
the  first  plant  was  completed.  In  1911-12, 
a  subsidiary  company  was  organized  in 
Canada  to  manufacture  Yale  products  for 
that  market.  That  plant,  though  of 
course  very  much  smaller  than  the  one 
in  Stamford,  was  built  and  is  operated 
along  the  same  lines.  Fifty  years  ago  the 
organization  of  a  manufacturing  plant 
was  of  the  simplest  and  most  elementary 
character,  but  in  this  direction,  as  in  ev- 
erything else,  Mr.  Towne's  ideas  kept 
pace  with  the  development  of  the  busi- 
ness and  of  the  times,  and  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  no  industrial  enterprise  in  this  coun- 
try is  more  thoroughly  and  efficiently  or- 
ganized. Mr.  Towne  is  a  splendid  judge 
of  men,  and  as  the  needs  of  the  business 
grew  he  selected  men  with  the  requisite 
knowledge  and  natural  qualifications  for 
the  positions  to  be  filled.  It  is  said  that 
The  Yale  &  Towne  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany is  the  largest  producer  in  the  world 
of  locks,  bank  locks,  night  latches,  fine 
padlocks,  and  chain-blocks,  and  one  of 
the  largest  producers  of  builders  hard- 
ware, door-closers,  electric  hoists,  and 
electric  industrial  trucks.  The  items  in 
its  catalogs  number  45,000. 

Mr.  Towne  became  a  member  of  the 
American  Society  of  Mechanical  Engi- 
neers when  that  organization  was  yet 
young,  and  for  many  years  participated 
enthusiastically  in  its  proceedings.  He 
was  elected  president  of  the  Society  in 
1888,  and  the  following  year  was  chosen 
chairman  of  the  large  delegation  from 
the  three  great  engineering  societies  who 
went  to  Europe  as  the  guests  of  the  In- 
stitution of  Civil  Engineers  of  Great  Brit- 
ain and  of  the  Societe  des  Ingenieurs  Civ- 
ils  of  France.  Mr.  Towne,  while  not  a 
voluminous  writer,  is  the  author  of  a 
number  of  papers  which  won  wide  recog- 
nition as  valuable  contributions  to  tech- 


52 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


nical  literature.  Perhaps  the  most  nota- 
ble was  a  paper  read  before  the  American 
Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers  in  1886 
entitled  "The  Engineer  as  an  Economist." 
It  has  been  said  that  this  was  the  first 
published  article  advocating  the  recogni- 
tion of  works  management  as  a  modern 
science.  In  1921  he  was  elected  an  hon- 
orary member  of  the  Society. 

In  1892  Mr.  Towne  changed  his  resi- 
dence from  Stamford  to  New  York  City, 
and  despite  the  exacting  demands  of  his 
own  business  he  found  time  to  render 
valued  service  as  an  early  and  active 
member  of  the  Merchant's  Association 
of  that  city,  serving  as  its  president  from 
1907  to  1913,  and  is  still  a  member  of  its 
board  of  directors.  He  was  active  in  pro- 
moting the  organization  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  of  the  National  Tariff  Com- 
mission Association,  and  served  as  treas- 
urer of  the  latter  until  it  was  disbanded. 
He  also  participated  in  the  early  activities 
of  the  League  for  Industrial  Rights,  and 
the  National  Industrial  Conference  Board. 
In  1919  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Commer- 
cial Science  was  conferred  on  him  by 
New  York  University. 

While  a  resident  of  Stamford,  Connec- 
ticut, especially  in  the  years  between  1880 
and  1890,  Mr.  Towne  interested  himself 
in  movements  for  the  improvement  of  the 
town.  Stamford's  most  pressing  need  at 
that  time  was  a  system  of  sewerage.  Mr. 
Towne  was  the  most  active  advocate  of 
this,  and  led  numerous  debates  in  its 
favor  at  public  meetings.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  employment,  by 
the  then  borough,  of  his  friend,  Colonel 
George  E.  Waring,  a  celebrated  sanitary 
engineer,  who  designed  the  system  of 
sanitary  sewerage  that  was  later  installed. 
Mr.  Towne  was  a  pioneer  in  the  move- 
ment for  good  roads.  In  addresses  and 
in  articles  published  over  his  signature,  he 


advocated  a  more  progressive  policy  and 
the  result  was  the  construction  of  a  num- 
ber of  macadamized  streets,  the  real  be- 
ginning of  better  roads  in  Stamford.  He 
caused  a  plan  to  be  drawn  for  a  parkway 
along  the  Rippowan  river.  This  met  with 
opposition  and  defeat,  but  in  later  years  it 
was  recognized  that  had  Mr.  Towne's 
suggestion  been  carried  out,  which  could 
easily  have  been  done  at  that  time,  Stam- 
ford would  have  a  beauty  spot  through 
the  center  of  the  town  that  would  make 
it  unique.  One  of  the  earliest  undertak- 
ings of  Mr.  Towne  for  the  benefit  of  his 
employees  was  the  establishment  of  a 
library,  which  was  housed  in  two  rooms 
of  a  building  on  Main  street.  This  was 
supplied  with  works  on  scientific  sub- 
jects, fiction  and  current  magazines.  It 
was  used  not  only  by  his  factory  em- 
ployees but  by  the  public,  and  was  really 
the  beginning  of  Stamford's  splendid  free 
library.  It  was  also  the  beginning  of  the 
Yale  &  Towne  welfare  work  already  al- 
luded to  in  this  sketch. 

On  March  12,  1868,  Mr.  Towne  mar- 
ried Cora  E.  White,  daughter  of  John 
Parker  and  Eliza  Canfield  (Tallmadge) 
White.  John  P.  White  was  a  descendant 
of  Hon.  David  Hall,  first  governor  of  Del- 
aware. Hon.  Frederick  Augustus  Tall- 
madge, father  of  Eliza  Canfield  Tall- 
madge, was  at  one  time  recorder  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  He  married  Eliza  H. 
Canfield,  daughter  of  Judson  and  Mabel 
(Ruggles)  Canfield.  Frederick  A.  Tall- 
madge was  the  son  of  Colonel  Benjamin 
Tallmadge,  aide-de-camp  of  General 
Washington  in  the  Revolution.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Floyd,  daughter  of  General 
William  Floyd,  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  Henry 
Robinson  and  Cora  E.  (White)  Towne 
were  the  parents  of  John  Henry  Towne, 
still  living,  and  of  Frederick  Tallmadge 
Towne,  who  was  born  March  5,  1872,  and 
who  died  February  4,  1906. 


53 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


MIX,  Elisha  (3rd), 

Head    of   Important    Business. 

A  man  is  a  quotation  from  all  his  an- 
cestors. No  book  printed  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  did  so  much  perhaps  to 
spur  young  people  to  worthy  endeavor  as 
"Self  Help,"  by  Samuel  Smiles,  a  collec- 
tion of  brief  biographies  detailing  the 
struggles  of  men  who  by  their  own  un- 
aided efforts  worked  their  way  from  hum- 
ble beginnings  to  commanding  positions 
in  every  field  of  human  achievement.  Such 
stories  still  interest  and  instruct  us,  but 
the  objection  is  often  heard  that  the 
days  of  opportunity  are  past.  It  is,  there- 
fore, important  to  place  before  the  youth 
of  our  time  the  histories  of  successful  men 
now  living;  and  the  career  of  Elisha  Mix, 
lock  manufacturer  of  Stamford,  furnishes 
such  a  story.  It  will  be  an  inspiration  to 
the  young.  It  will  stimulate  ambition.  It 
will  conduce  to  honesty,  energy  and  per- 
severance. It  will  inculcate  humanitar- 
ianism  in  the  management  of  employes, 
efficiency  and  system  in  upbuilding  a 
business. 

The  Mix  family  is  among  the  oldest  in 
New  England,  and  Elisha  Mix,  of  this 
review,  who  will  appear  in  greater  detail 
below,  carries  in  his  veins  also  the  blood 
of  other  Colonial  families,  among  them, 
Turner,  Goodwin,  Webster,  Steele,  Gov- 
ernor William  Bradford  and  others.  It 
was  the  lofty  ideals  and  sturdy  patriot- 
ism of  such  families  that  gave  color  and 
form  to  New  England  society  and  insti- 
tutions, which  in  turn  exerted  such  a  vir- 
ile and  beneficent  influence  in  shaping  the 
real  character  of  America  as  a  nation. 
To  possess  such  a  heritage  carries  with  it 
responsibility.  Elisha  Mix  in  his  char- 
acter and  activities  maintains  the  unsul- 
lied reputation  of  his  ancestors,  and  like 
them  he  has  always  stood  ready  to  meet 
every  responsibility  that  is  connected  by 


the  term,  good  citizen.  The  spellings  of 
the  name  of  Mix  have  been  many  and  va- 
ried. In  the  early  records  it  is  most  com- 
monly spelled  Meekes. 

(I)  Thomas  Meekes,  the  ancestor  of 
the  family,  believed  to  have  been  born  in 
London,  England,  died  in  1691,  and  is 
buried  near  the  old  green  in  the  New 
Haven  Church  Burying  Ground.  In  1643 
he  was  a  resident  of  New  Haven,  Connec- 
ticut. He  married,  six  years  later,  Re- 
becca Turner,  daughter  of  Captain  Na- 
thaniel Turner,  who  came  with  Governor 
Winthrop. 

(II)  John  Mix,  eldest  son  of  Thomas 
and  Rebecca  (Turner)  Meekes,  was  born 
in  1649,  and  died  January  21,  1711-12.  He 
removed  to  Wallingford,  Connecticut,  in 
1670,  and  was  the  first  of  the  name  there. 
He  married,  before  1676,  Elizabeth  Hea- 
ton,  born  in  1650,  died  August  21,  171 1. 

(III)  John  (2)  Mix,  eldest  son  of  John 
(1)  and  Elizabeth  (Heaton)  Mix,  was  born 
August  25,  1676.  He  married  (first)  No- 
vember 25,  1702,  Sarah  Thompson,  born 
January  16,  1671,  died  November  21, 
171 1.  He  married  (second),  November 
12,  1712,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Booth,  who  died 
in  May,  1716.  He  married  (third),  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1717,  Esther  Peck. 

(IV)  Ebenezer  Mix,  son  of  John  (2) 
and  Elizabeth  (Booth)  Mix,  was  born  in 
1715-16,  and  died  in  West  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, August  4,  1766.  He  was  a  large 
land  owner,  and  an  active  member  of  the 
Congregational  church.  He  married  Anna 
Goodwin,  born  in  1725,  died  in  1817, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Goodwin  (see  Good- 
win V).  Ebenezer  and  Anna  (Goodwin) 
Mix  were  the  parents  of  John  and  Elisha 
Mix,  both  prominent  men.  The  former. 
John  Mix,  was  secretary  of  the  Order  of 
the  Cincinnati,  and  with  him  were  de- 
posited the  charter  and  funds  of  the  So- 
ciety when  it  was  disbanded  in  1804.  He 
was  an  ensign  and  lieutenant  in  the  Rev- 


54 


II 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


olution.     The  second  son  was  Elisha,  of 
whom  further. 

(V)  Elisha  Mix,  son  of  Ebenezer  and 
Anna  (Goodwin)  Mix,  was  born  July  i, 
1764,  and  died  June  12,  1818.  He  was  a 
corporal  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  a 
pensioner  in  1818,  the  year  he  died.  His 
widow  received  a  pension  until  her  death. 
Elisha  Mix  served  in  Captain  Catlin's 
company,  Fifth  Regiment  of  the  Connec- 
ticut Line,  May  26, 1777,  for  eight  months ; 
enlisted  from  Goshen,  as  corporal,  Au- 
gust 14,  1777,  for  the  war,  in  the  Seventh 
Regiment  of  the  Connecticut  Line;  "en- 
listed in  Captain  Baldwin's  Company, 
January  1,  1781,  paid  to  December  31, 
1781."  He  also  served  as  a  corporal  in 
Captain  Bissell's  company,  "arrived  in 
camp,  June  23,  1778."  Elisha  Mix  mar- 
ried Anna  Webster,  born  in  1759,  died 
January  27,  1842,  daughter  of  Isaac  Web- 
ster (see  Webster  V). 

(VI)  James  Mix,  son  of  Elisha  and 
Anna  (Webster)  Mix,  was  born  July  10, 
1793.  He  was  corporal  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  settled  in  Goshen,  Connecti- 
cut. At  one  time  he  conducted  a  grocery 
store  in  Hartford,  and  he  died  in  Terry- 
ville,  Connecticut,  in  1859.  He  married, 
December  8,  18 14,  Lucy  Steele,  born  De- 
cember 8,  1793,  daughter  of  Allyn  Steele 
(see  Steele  VII). 

(VII)  General  Elisha  (2)  Mix,  son  of 
James  and  Lucy  (Steele)  Mix,  was  born 
November  17,  1818,  in  Watertown,  Con- 
necticut, and  died  October  8,  1898  He 
married,  July  10,  1843,  Amelia  Edmonds, 
a  native  of  Trowbridge,  England,  where 
she  was  born  April  2,  1827.  She  died  in 
November,  1916.  General  Elisha  Mix  was 
reared  in  Hartford,  where  his  father  re- 
moved while  he  was  yet  a  small  lad,  and 
entered  the  grocery  business.  The  boy, 
Elisha,  attended  the  common  school,  and 
later  learned  the  trades  of  tool  and  clock 
making.     When  he  was  about  eighteen 


years  old,  he  ran  away  and  went  to  sea ; 
he  continued  along  this  line  for  about 
two  years,  and  finally  reached  Florida, 
during  the  progress  of  the  Seminole  War, 
in  which  he  took  part.  After  that  he  re- 
turned to  Connecticut  and  settled  in 
Terryville,  remaining  for  a  time,  going 
thence  to  New  Haven,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  New  Haven  Clock 
Company.  After  a  few  years  he  left  the 
Clock  Company,  though  still  retaining 
his  financial  interest  in  it,  and  went  to 
Michigan  where  he  engaged  in  the  lum- 
bering business  for  a  year  or  two.  He 
then  returned  to  New  Haven,  Connecti- 
cut, and  spent  three  or  four  years  with 
the  Clock  Company.  About  1854  he  sold 
his  interest  in  that  enterprise  and  went 
West,  locating  in  Allegan,  Michigan, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  lumbering  busi- 
ness until  1862,  in  which  year  he  raised 
a  company  for  the  Eighth  Michigan  Cav- 
alry and  served  three  years.  He  went  out 
as  captain  of  his  company  and  was  pro- 
moted successively  to  major,  lieutenant- 
colonel  and  colonel.  On  March  19,  1865, 
he  was  brevetted  brigadier-general.  In 
the  Stoneman  raid,  General  Mix  was 
taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  Macon, 
Georgia,  for  a  short  time.  From  there 
he  was  sent  to  Charleston,  South  Can> 
lina,  where  he  remained  about  two  and 
one-half  months,  when  he  was  exchanged. 
General  Mix  served  in  fifty-two  engage- 
ments, a  remarkable  record. 

After  the  war,  General  Mix  purchased 
a  retail  hardware  store  in  Allegan,  which 
he  conducted  for  about  three  years.  Then 
he  removed  to  Fennville,  Michigan,  where 
he  operated  a  saw  mill  for  Emerson  & 
Talcott  for  two  years.  In  1868-69,  he 
bought  a  machine  shop  in  Allegan  and 
engaged  in  building  saw  mills  and  sta- 
tionary engines,  and  doing  repair  work 
on  them,  until  1870,  when  he  removed 
to  Wyandotte   and   took   charge  of   the 


55 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Wyandotte  Agricultural  Works,  manufac- 
turers of  mowers,  plows,  cultivators  and 
so  forth.  He  was  there  about  two  years 
and  then  returned  to  Allegan.  In  the 
latter  place,  General  Mix  organized  a 
company  to  manufacture  freight  cars.  A 
factory  was  built  and  the  machinery  had 
been  installed  when  the  panic  of  1873 
compelled  the  abandonment  of  the  enter- 
prise. On  May  3,  1873,  General  Mix  re- 
turned to  Connecticut  and  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Eagle  Lock  Company  as 
a  toolmaker.  In  October,  1875,  he  organ- 
ized the  Bridgeport  Lock  Company  and 
removed  to  Bridgeport.  He  was  secre- 
tary of  the  company,  which  was  success- 
ful from  the  beginning  and  promised  such 
competition  in  the  lock  business  that  the 
Eagle  Lock  Company  purchased  the  busi- 
ness and  removed  it  to  Terryville.  Gen- 
eral Mix  went  there  as  superintendent  of 
the  tool  department  and  remained  there 
until  1880,  when  he  went  to  Clarion 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  organized  a 
lumber  company  under  the  name  of  the 
Bagaley  Mills  Company.  Later  he  es- 
tablished another  mill  in  Elk  county  for 
the  same  company.  That  was  in  the 
spring  of  1882,  and  as  there  were  coal 
mines  on  the  property  where  the  com- 
pany proposed  to  work,  a  new  corporation 
was  formed  under  the  name  of  the  Ar- 
thur Coal  &  Lumber  Company.  Gen- 
eral Mix  remained  there  until  the  spring 
of  1884,  and  in  that  year  retired  from  ac- 
tive business,  returning  to  Allegan,  Mich- 
igan, where  he  resided  until  his  death  in 
1898.  During  his  last  residence  there  he 
was  for  several  years  superintendent  of 
the  Allegan  County  Poor. 

In  political  faith  a  Republican,  he  was 
active  in  the  support  of  the  party.  Hr 
was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  in  Jack- 
son, Michigan,  at  which  the  Republican 
party  was  organized,  but  never  desired 
public  office.    General  Mix  was  a  member 


of  C.  J.  Bassett  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  Allegan,  which  he  served 
several  times  as  commander,  and  he  was 
made  a  Free  Mason  in  Mt.  Clements, 
Michigan,  while  in  camp  there  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war.  A  Sons  of  Veterans 
camp  was  also  organized  in  Allegan,  and 
they  chose  the  name  of  General  Elisha 
Mix  Camp  in  honor  of  their  fellow-citizen. 

General  Mix  and  his  wife,  Amelia  (Ed- 
monds) Mix,  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Rosina,  wife  of  Harold 
C.  Weeks ;  she  died  January  10,  1919.  in 
Allegan  ;  Elisha,  of  further  mention  ;  Har- 
riet Elizabeth,  died  in  infancy.  The  fam- 
ily were  members  of  the  Congregational 
church. 

General  Elisha  Mix  was  a  typical,  rest- 
less, energetic,  aggressive  and  progres- 
sive New  Englander.  He  knew  not  the 
word  discouragement.  The  failure  of  one 
undertaking  only  spurred  him  to  greater 
and  more  determined  effort.  A  highly 
skilled  mechanic  of  the  time  when  men 
learned  trades  thoroughly,  he  was  also 
the  fortunate  possessor  of  splendid  execu- 
tive ability.  He  understood  human  na- 
ture and  knew  how  to  win  the  confidence 
of  men  and  manage  them.  Every  inch  a 
patriot,  he  served  his  country  on  the  field 
of  battle,  and  in  the  less  strenuous  days 
of  peace  he  measured  up  to  the  responsi- 
bilities of  citizenship.  He  was  highly  es- 
teemed by  all  who  had  an  opportunity  to 
recognize  his  sturdy,  upright  character. 

(VIII)  Elisha  (3)  Mix,  only  son  of 
General  Elisha  (2)  and  Amelia  (Ed- 
monds) Mix,  was  born  January  14,  1850, 
in  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  He  was 
educated  in  the  grammar  and  high  school 
of  Allegan,  Michigan,  and  at  an  early  age 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  machinist, 
under  the  instruction  of  his  father.  He 
came  to  Connecticut,  May  3,  1873,  and 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Eagle  Lock 
Company  as  a  toolmaker,  in  which  ca- 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


pacity  he  served  for  one  year,  when  he 
was  promoted  to  superintendent  of  the 
mail  lock  department,  which  position  he 
held  until  the  Bridgeport  Lock  Company 
was  formed  in  November,  1874.  He  re- 
mained with  this  company  until  it  was 
consolidated  with  the  Eagle  Lock  Com- 
pany in  1877.  He  then  returned  to  Terry- 
ville  and  engaged  with  the  old  company 
as  toolmaker  until  the  summer  of  1880, 
when  he  went  with  his  father  to  Penn- 
sylvania to  engage  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. He  left  Arthur's  Coal  &  Lumber 
Company  in  November,  1883,  and  then 
took  a  position  with  the  Corbin  Cabinet 
Lock  Company,  where  he  remained  until 
October,  1891,  when  he  came  to  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  took  a  similar  position 
with  the  Yale  &  Towne  Manufacturing 
Company,  which  position  he  held  until 
June  30,  1898,  in  which  month  he  organ- 
ized The  Excelsior  Hardware  Company, 
of  which  he  has  since  been  president.  The 
produce  of  the  company  is  trunk  and  cab- 
inet locks,  which  are  sold  direct  to  trunk 
manufacturers  and  makers  of  cabinet 
work. 

The  business  has  grown  from  the  small- 
est of  beginnings  until  about  eighty-five 
people  are  employed  on  an  average  and 
about  ten  thousand  dozen  locks  are  pro- 
duced a  month.  The  story  of  the  growth 
of  this  enterprise  is  both  entertaining  and 
instructive.  Mr.  Mix's  achievements  dem- 
onstrate that  it  is  still  possible  for  a  man 
with  the  requisite  knowledge  of  his  busi- 
ness and  the  right  personal  qualities  to 
enter  a  field  of  business  apparently  al- 
ready preempted  and  win  for  himself  a 
substantial  success.  From  what  we  have 
seen  of  his  father's  career,  we  have  a 
right  to  infer  that  Mr.  Mix  inherited  his 
great  courage,  determination  and  initia- 
tive. Like  his  father,  he  is  thorough 
master  of  every  detail  of  his  trade  and  a 
highly  skilled  artisan.     With  this  equip- 


ment and  a  capital  which  was,  apparently, 
wholly  inadequate,  he  embarked  in  this 
enterprise,  full  of  hope,  but  not  unmind- 
ful of  the  keen  competition  which  he 
knew  he  should  encounter  as  soon  as 
other  lock  manufacturers  discovered  his 
product  on  the  market.  Accordingly,  he 
planned  wisely  for  all  contingencies.  He 
made  a  thousand  dozen  of  a  certain  type 
of  lock,  which  he  had  no  difficulty  in 
marketing.  He  was  not  in  the  least  sur- 
prised when  other  manufacturers  cut  the 
price  on  that  type  of  lock  to  a  ruinous 
figure.  However,  he  had  sold  his  first 
thousand  dozen  and  now,  with  the  strat- 
egy he  had  already  planned,  he  made  a 
large  stock  of  a  different  type,  and  this 
also  met  with  the  ruthless  price  cutting 
competition,  and  so  it  went,  Mr.  Mix 
gradually  strengthening  his  standing  with 
the  trade  and  adding  to  his  capital  and 
equipment  until  his  position  among  lock 
manufacturers  was  assured.  In  1918  a 
new  and  modern  brick  factory  building  of 
two  stories,  one  hundred  feet  by  fifty  feet, 
was  erected,  well  lighted  and  equipped 
with  every  convenience  for  the  comfort 
and  well  being  of  his  employes.  A  trip 
with  him  through  the  plant  illumines  the 
character  of  the  president,  for  it  is  ap- 
parent that  the  workers  are  accustomed 
to  his  visits  and  to  receive  a  pleasant 
word  of  kindly  interest  that  does  more 
to  promote  their  loyalty  than  can  easily 
be  estimated.  In  such  an  atmosphere  it 
would  be  hard  to  propagate  discontent. 
Mr.  Mix  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  adopted  city,  and  can  be 
depended  upon  to  do  his  share  in  its  de- 
velopment toward  an  ideal  community. 
He  is  an  ex-president  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  and  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  United  American  Mechanics,  of  which 
he  is  also  past  councilor;  he  is  past  mas- 
ter of  Ponus  Lodge,  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen. 


57 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Mr.  Mix  married  (first)  Frances  A. 
Williams,  who  has  nearly  all  her  life  been 
known  as  "Fannie."  She  was  born  in 
Terry ville,  Connecticut,  March  4,  185 1, 
a  daughter  of  Cornelius  R.  and  Caroline 
(Hooker)  Williams,  the  latter  named  a 
daughter  of  Ira  Hooker.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mix  are:  1.  Moseley  W., 
now  vice-president  of  The  Excelsior 
Hardware  Company;  he  married  Nellie 
N.  Layle,  and  has  one  son,  Earle  Lin- 
wood.  2.  Lora  A.,  resides  at  home ;  a  re- 
tired school  teacher.  3.  Ralph  Hooker, 
married  Ina  Thresher,  and  has  a  daughter, 
Frances  Bradford,  and  a  son,  Ralph 
Thresher ;  they  reside  in  Springdale, 
Stamford,  Connecticut.  4.  James  Ed- 
monds, secretary  and  treasurer  of  The 
Excelsior  Hardware  Company ;  he  mar- 
ried Grace  Morro  and  they  have  two 
daughters,  Marjory  and  Elizabeth  Ann. 
5.  Clarence  Elisha,  assistant  secretary 
and  assistant  treasurer  of  The  Excelsior 
Hardware  Company.  He  served  eleven 
months  in  France,  until  April  4,  1919,  in 
the  Medical  Corps  of  the  107th  Infantry, 
27th  Division,  and  was  in  the  engagement 
at  the  breaking  of  the  Hindenburg  Line. 
Clarence  E.  Mix  has  a  citation  for  brav- 
ery under  fire  in  the  Hindenburg  line  and 
other  engagements  in  the  World  War. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  July  23, 
1916.  Mr.  Mix  married  (second),  March 
12,  1919,  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Forbes,  of  Plain- 
well,  Michigan.  The  family  attend  and 
are  active  in  the  support  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  of  which  Mr.  Mix  has 
served  several  terms  as  deacon. 

(The  Goodwin  Line). 

(I)  Ozias  Goodwin,  the  ancestor  of 
this  branch  of  the  family,  was  born  in 
1596,  and  died  in  1683.  It  is  not  known 
just  when  he  came  to  New  England,  but 
he  was  a  resident  of  Hartford,  Connec- 
ticut, in  1639.    He  was  one  of  those  who 


agreed  to  remove  to  Hatfield,  although 
he  did  not  go  himself.  He  married  Mary 
Woodward,  daughter  of  Robert  Wood- 
ward, of  Braintree,  Massachusetts. 

(II)  William  Goodwin,  son  of  Ozias 
and  Mary  (Woodward)  Goodwin,  was 
born  about  1629,  and  died  October  15, 
1689.  He  was  made  freeman,  May  21, 
1657,  and  in  1662  served  as  chimney 
viewer. 

(III)  Nathaniel  Goodwin,  son  of  Wil- 
liam Goodwin,  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade. 
He  was  a  deacon  of  the  First  Church  of 
Hartford  in  March,  1734.  He  held  this 
office  until  his  death,  in  November,  1747. 
He  married  Mehetable  Porter,  born  Sep- 
tember 15,  1673,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  (Stanley)  Porter,  and  she  died 
February  6,  1726. 

(IV)  Isaac  Goodwin,  son  of  Nathan- 
iel and  Mehetable  (Porter)  Goodwin,  was 
baptized  November  10,  1695,  and  died 
August  15,  1766.  He  was  grand  juror  in 
1741,  and  selectman  in  1742.  He  married 
(first)  Hannah  Morgan,  born  Nevember 
24,  1703,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rachel 
Morgan. 

(V)  Anna  Goodwin,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Hannah  (Morgan)  Goodwin,  was 
baptized  May  16,  1725,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 9,  1817.  She  married,  in  1754,  Eben- 
ezer  Mix  (see  Mix  IV). 

(The  Webster  Line). 

(I)  Governor  John  Webster  was  from 
Norwickshire,  England,  and  was  one  of 
the  original  settlers  of  Hartford  and  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Republic  of  Con- 
necticut. He  held  many  prominent  of- 
fices; in  1655  he  was  deputy  governor 
and  in  1656  was  governor.  His  wife's 
Christian  name  was  Agnes  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  four  sons. 

(II)  Lieutenant  Robert  Webster,  son 
of  Governor  John  and  Agnes  Webster, 
was  born  in  1627,  and  was  a  man  of  great 


58 


I 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ability.  He  served  his  communities  in 
many  ways,  and  settled  in  Middletown. 
When  that  town  was  organized,  he  was 
made  recorder,  and  also  represented  Mid- 
dletown in  the  General  Court,  1653-55, 
1656,  1657,  and  1658.  He  married,  in 
1652,  Susannah  Treat,  born  in  1629, 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Joanna  Treat, 
of  Wethersfield. 

(III)  Deacon  Jonathan  Webster,  son 
of  Lieutenant  Robert  and  Susannah 
(Treat)  Webster,  was  born  January  9, 
1656,  and  died  in  1735.  His  wife  became 
a  member  of  the  Second  Church  in  Hart- 
ford, March  17,  1695,  and  died  the  same 
year. 

(IV)  Captain  Stephen  Webster,  son  of 
Deacon  Jonathan  Webster,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 1,  1693,  and  died  in  1724.  He  mar- 
ried, June  6,  1717,  Mary  Burnham,  bap- 
tized December  19,  1690,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Olcott)  Burnham,  of 
Hartford. 

(V)  Isaac  Webster,  son  of  Captain 
Stephen  and  Mary  (Burnham)  Webster, 
was  born  in  1718,  baptized  June  15,  of 
that  year,  and  died  September  19,  1801. 
He  married,  November  11,  1739,  Ame 
White,  who  died  June  23,  1807.  They 
were  the  parents  of  Anna  Webster,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Elisha  Mix  (see  Mix 
V). 

(The  Steele  Line). 

(I)  John  Steele,  the  immigrant,  was 
born  in  Essex  county,  England,  and  died 
November  25,  1665,  in  Farmington,  Con- 
necticut. He  came  to  New  England  in 
1631,  and  settled  in  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  removed  to  Hartford, 
thence  to  Farmington.  The  first  wife  of 
John  Steele  was  named  Rachel ;  she  died 
in  1653 ;  he  married  (second)  Mrs.  Mercy 
Seamer. 

(II)  John  (2)  Steele,  son  of  John  (1) 
and  Rachel  Steele,  was  married  in  1645 
to  Mercy  Warner,  daughter  of  Andrew 


Warner.     He  died  previous  to  his  father, 

i653- 

(III)  Samuel  Steele,  son  of  John  (2) 
and  Mercy  (Warner)  Steele,  was  born 
March  15,  1652,  and  died  in  1710.  He 
married,  September  16,  1680,  Mercy  Brad- 
ford, daughter  of  Major  William  Brad- 
ford. 

(IV)  Thomas  Steele,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Mercy  (Bradford)  Steele,  was  born 
September  9,  1681,  and  died  in  1757.  He 
married,  May  16,  1709,  Susanna  Webster, 
who  died  November  27,  1757. 

(V)  Samuel  (2)  Steele,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Susanna  (Webster)  Steele,  was  born 
March  11,  1712,  and  died  September  12, 
1779.  He  married,  December  20,  1739, 
Elizabeth  Merry. 

(VI)  Allyn  Steele,  son  of  Samuel  (2) 
and  Elizabeth  (Merry)  Steele,  was  born 
July  21,  1757,  and  died  June  17,  1802.  He 
married  (first)  Joanna  Cadwell,  born  Jan- 
uary 20,  1757,  and  died  May  3,  1835. 

(VII)  Lucy  Steele,  daughter  of  Allyn 
and  Joanna  (Cadwell)  Steele,  became  the 
wife  of  James  Mix  (see  Mix  VI). 


LYNES,  Samuel, 

Merchant. 

Many  of  the  old  New  England  names 
have  undergone  great  modifications  in 
spelling  and  one  of  these  is  Lynes.  It  is 
frequently  written  Lines  and  Lyne.  Henry 
and  Ralph  Lines,  usually  supposed  to 
be  brothers,  settled  in  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, about  1642.  Henry  Lines  states 
in  the  birth-record  of  his  son,  Samuel, 
that  he  is  "second  sonne  of  John  Line 
(as  he  saith)  of  Badby  two  miles  from 
Dantry  (Daventry)  in  Northampton- 
shire." 

(I)  Ralph  Lines,  Sr.,  probably  brother 
of  Henry  Lines,  lived  in  that  part  of  New 
Haven  later  designated  the  parish  of  Am- 
ity, and  now  the  town  of  Woodbridge. 


59 


KX CYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


He  died  September  7,  1689,  and  his  estate 
showed  an  inventory  of  over  £242.  In 
his  will,  dated  December  4,  1687,  he  men- 
tions sons,  Samuel,  Ralph,  Joseph  and 
Benjamin,  wife  "Alis,"  and  daughter  Han- 
nah. A  codicil,  dated  February  1,  1689, 
says  that  as  his  life  has  been  prolonged, 
and  his  daughter  Hannah  since  died,  he 
leaves  her  portion  to  his  wife  Alice.  An 
additional  codicil,  made  during  his  last 
sickness,  states  as  his  son  Benjamin  has 
since  died,  but  his  widow  being  with 
child,  to  that  child,  if  it  lives,  he  bequeaths 
its  father's  portion.  He  also  speaks  of  his 
deceased  daughter  Merriman.  The  will 
was  proved  November  13,  1689  (New 
Haven  Probate,  Vol.  II,  p.  17).  Children: 
Samuel,  Ralph,  John,  Joseph,  Benjamin, 
of  whom  further ;  Hannah. 

(II)  Benjamin  Lines,  son  of  Ralph 
Lines,  married  Anna  Wilmot,  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Thomas)  Wilmot. 
He  died  July  26,  1689,  and  soon  after  his 
widow  married  (second)  Dr.  Peter  Car- 
rington.  In  1702,  Peter  Carrington  is 
called  husband  to  Anna,  administratrix  on 
the  estate  of  her  late  husband,  Benjamin 
Lines,  deceased  (County  Court  Records, 
New  Haven,  Vol.  II,  p.  83). 

(III)  Benjamin  (2)  Lines,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin (1)  and  Anna  (Wilmot)  Lines,  was 
born  November  8,  1689.  He  was  of  New 
Haven.  He  married  Esther,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Sturgis,  of  Fairfield. 

(IV)  Samuel  Lynes,  son  of  Benjamin 
(2)  and  Esther  (Sturgis)  Lines,  was  mar- 
ried, February  28,  1749,  to  Mercy  Holly. 
Mercy  Holly  was  born  April  12,  1719. 
Her  father  was  Elisha  Holly,  born  No- 
vember 10,  1687,  died  May  14,  1752; 
he  married,  January  24,  1716,  Rebecca 
Bishop,  daughter  of  Stephen  Bishop. 
Elisha  Holly,  grandfather  of  Mercy 
Holly,  was  born  June  1,  1659,  and  died 
October  28,  1719;  he  married,  December 
2,    1686,   Martha   Holmes,   and    she   died 


August  4,  1721.  His  father  was  John 
Holly,  who  was  born  in  England  about 
1618  and  came  to  America  about  1640, 
settled  in  Stamford,  Connecticut,  where 
he  died  May  25,  1681.  His  widow's  name 
was  Mary. 

(V)  Benjamin  (3)  Lynes,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Mercy  (Holly)  Lynes,  was  born  June 
19,  1757,  in  Ridgebury,  Connecticut.  He 
married  Sarah  Coley,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Sarah  (Sanford)  Coley,  of  Redding, 
Connecticut. 

(VI)  Stephen  Coley  Lynes,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin (3)  and  Sarah  (Coley)  Lynes, 
married,  February  6,  1815,  Hannah 
Maltby,  born  in  Fairfield,  Connecticut, 
April  7,  1769,  daughter  of  Captain  Jona- 
than and  Elizabeth  (Allen)  Maltby. 
(See  Maltby  IV). 

(VII)  Dr.  Samuel  (2)  Lynes,  son  of 
Stephen  Coley  and  Hannah  (Maltby) 
Lynes,  was  born  in  December,  1821,  and 
died  in  July,  1878.  He  attended  school  in 
his  native  town  of  Ridgefield,  and  read 
medicine  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr. 
Willard  Parker,  for  whom  the  Willard 
Parker  Hospital  in  New  York  is  named. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  Yale  Medical 
School,  from  which  he  was  graduated. 
Immediately  Dr.  Lynes  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Norwalk,  and 
for  many  years  was  the  only  physician  in 
the  town.  That  was  at  a  time  when  the 
territory  covered  by  a  doctor  was  a  very 
large  one.  The  physician  of  that  day  not 
only  ministered  to  the  physical  wants  of 
man,  he  was  also  the  friend,  confidante 
and  adviser  of  his  patients.  Dr.  Lynes 
was  beloved  among  those  whose  suffer- 
ings he  eased ;  he  was  accustomed  to  ride 
over  the  country  in  the  old  fashioned  two- 
wheeled  gig,  and  a  glad  welcome  awaited 
him  wherever  he  called.  Dr.  Lynes  was 
past  master  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  6, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  was  past 
grand  of  Our  Brothers  Lodge,  Independ- 


60 


&Kt*^  «^^v;^r^C 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  both  of  Nor- 
walk. 

Dr.  Lynes  married  Emily  Augusta 
Sherry,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Susan 
Virginia  (St.  John)  Sherry,  of  New  York 
City.  Her  parents  removed  to  Norwalk 
shortly  after  her  birth  and  located  on  East 
avenue  ;  later  the  property  was  cut  up  into 
building  lots  and  what  is  now  Morgan 
avenue    passes     through     the    property. 

Dr.  Lynes  and  his  wife  were  the  par- 
ents of :  Charles  S.,  now  deceased ;  Emily 
A. ;  Susan  Virginia,  deceased ;  Samuel,  of 
whom  further.  The  family  were  members 
of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
Dr.  Lynes  was  a  vestryman  for  many 
years. 

The  St.  John  descent  is  through  Susan 
Virginia  St.  John,  daughter  of  William 
(2)  and  Esther  (Cannon)  St.  John.  Wil- 
liam (2)  St.  John  was  a  son  of  William 

(1)  and  Mary  Esther  (Belden)  St.  John. 
William  (1)  St.  John  was  a  son  of  Joseph 

(2)  and  Susannah  (Selleck)  St.  John. 
Joseph  (2)  St.  John  was  a  son  of  Joseph 
(1)  and  Sarah  (Betts)  St.  John.     Joseph 

(1)  St.  John  was  a  son  of  Mark  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Stanley)  St.  John.  Mark  St.  John 
was  a  son  of  Matthias  St.  John,  the  Amer- 
ican founder.  In  the  Cannon  family  the 
ancestry  is  as  follows :  Esther  Cannon 
was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Rebecca 
(Gould)  Cannon.  James  Cannon  was  a 
son  of  John  (3)  and  Esther  (Perry)  Can- 
non.   John  (3)  Cannon  was  a  son  of  John 

(2)  and  Jerusha  (Sands)  Cannon.  John 
(2)  Cannon  was  a  son  of  John  (1)  and 
Maria  (LeGrand)  Cannon.  John  (1) 
Cannon  was  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Anna 
Cannon,  of  Staten  Island,  the  first  Can- 
non settlers.  The  Selleck  connections  are 
traced  through  Susannah,  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1709,  who  married  Joseph  (2)  St. 
John.  Susannah  was  a  daughter  of  Na- 
than and  Susannah  (Hooker)  Selleck. 
Nathan  Selleck  was  the  only  son  of  Jona- 


than (2)  and  Abigail  (Gold)  Selleck,  who 
were  married  September  12,  1686.  Jon- 
athan (2)  Selleck  was  a  son  of  Jonathan 
(1)  and  Abigail  (Law)  Selleck.  Jon- 
athan (1)  Selleck  was  born  March  20, 
1641,  son  of  David  and  Susannah  Selleck. 
Susannah  Hooker,  who  married  Nathan 
Selleck,  was  a  daughter  of  William 
Hooker,  of  Farmington,  Connecticut. 
William  Hooker  was  the  third  son  of 
Rev.  Samuel  and  Mary  (Swazey)  Hooker. 
Rev.  Samuel  Hooker  was  a  son  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Hooker,  founder  of  Hartford. 
The  Belden  family  figures  in  this  record 
through  the  marriage  of  William  (1)  St. 
John  and  Mary  Esther  Belden.  Mary 
Esther,  born  1758,  was  a  daughter  of  John 
(3)  and  Rebecca  (Bartlett)  Belden.  John 
(3)  Belden,  born  April  26,  1729,  was  a 
son  of  John  (2)  and  Ruhama  (Hill)  Bel- 
den. John  (2)  Belden  was  a  son  of  John 
(1)  and  Ruth  (Hayes)  Belden.  John  (1) 
Belden,  born  January  9,  1653,  was  a  son 
of  William  and  Thomasine  (or  Comma- 
cine)  Belden.  John  (1)  Belden  moved  to 
Norwalk,  Connecticut.  His  father,  Wil- 
liam Belden,  lived  in  Wethersfield,  Con- 
necticut, and  died  there  about  1660. 

(VIII)  Samuel  (3)  Lynes,  son  of  Dr. 
Samuel  (2)  and  Emily  Augusta  (Sherry) 
Lynes,  was  born  April  13,  1865,  in  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  city.  Early  in 
life  he  entered  the  real  estate  business 
with  Louise  O.  Coolidge,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Coolidge  &  Lynes,  and  this  part- 
nership successfully  continued  about  fif- 
teen years.  In  1902,  Mr.  Lynes  formed  a 
partnership  with  Hubert  E.  Bishop,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Bishop  &  Lynes,  suc- 
ceeding C.  T.  Leonard  as  proprietors  of  a 
coal  business  that  was  established  in  1839, 
handling  coal,  wood  and  mason's  supplies. 
Mr.  Lynes  is  among  the  leading  mer- 
chants of  Norwalk,  and  one  of  the  enter- 
prising citizens  there.     Besides  his  own 


61 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


business  interests  he  is  a  director  of  the 
Fairfield  County  National  Bank  and  an 
incorporator  of  the  Fairfield  County  Sav- 
ings Bank.  Public  matters  also  have  re- 
ceived his  attention ;  he  served  on  the 
Board  of  Selectmen  and  was  water  com- 
missioner for  the  city  of  Norwalk. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Lynes  is  a  member 
of  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  his  membership  dat- 
ing back  for  twenty-three  years ;  mem- 
ber of  Washington  Chapter,  Royal  Arch 
Masons ;  Clinton  Commandery,  Knights 
Templar;  Lafayette  Consistory,  Sublime 
Princes  of  the  Royal  Secret ;  and  Pyra- 
mid Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order  No- 
bles of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  the  last  two 
named  being  of  Bridgeport.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men,  and  of  Our  Brothers  Lodge,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Masonic 
work  has  always  claimed  his  devoted  at- 
tention, and  in  1920  he  performed  a  signal 
service  for  the  local  lodge.  Since  the 
erection  of  the  Masonic  building  in  1886, 
St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  had  occupied  the 
top  floor,  and  with  the  purchase  of  the 
property  early  in  1920  by  the  Central 
Trust  Company  the  lodge  faced  the  prob- 
lems of  paying  a  greatly  increased  rental 
or  finding  new  quarters.  Mr.  Lynes  pro- 
posed that  the  building  that  had  formerly 
been  the  Chapel  of  the  Holy  Saviour, 
maintained  by  St.  Paul's  Episcopal 
Church,  be  purchased.  The  wisdom  of 
the  plan  and  the  possibility  of  securing 
sufficient  funds  were  doubted  by  many, 
but  Mr.  Lynes'  energetic  enthusiasm  won 
the  day  and  St.  John's  Temple  Associa- 
tion was  organized  with  him  as  president. 
He  led  in  the  campaign  for  subscriptions, 
worked  tirelessly  in  planning  the  large 
fair  that  yielded  welcome  proceeds,  and 
finally  was  able  to  announce  to  his  fellow 
members,  on  behalf  of  his  associates  in 
the    financial    drive,    that    the    required 


amount  had  been  raised  and  that  the 
lodge  owned  a  new  home.  In  expression 
of  their  appreciation  of  his  leadership  in 
this  project,  his  brother  Masons,  at  an 
open  meeting  in  connection  with  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  temple,  presented  him  with 
a  handsome  gold  watch,  chain  and  pen- 
dant. Mr.  Lynes  attends  St.  Paul's  Epis- 
copal Church  and  aids  in  the  support  of 
its  good  works. 

(The  Maltby  Line). 

(I)  William  Maltby,  the  ancestor,  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Bran- 
ford,  Connecticut,  and  died  September  1, 
1710.  He  held  many  important  offices, 
serving  as  magistrate  and  as  representa- 
tive to  the  General  Court.  He  married 
Abigail  Bishop,  born  in  New  Haven,  Oc- 
tober 30,  1659,  died  October  24,  1710, 
daughter  of  Deputy  Governor  James 
Bishop,  of  Connecticut,  and  his  wife, 
Mary  (Lamberton)  Bishop,  daughter  of 
Master  Lamberton,  of  the  phantom  ship. 

(II)  Jonathan  Maltby,  sixth  child  of 
William  and  Abigail  (Bishop)  Maltby, 
was  born  in  Branford,  Connecticut,  July 
26,  1698.  He  married,  in  Stamford,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1719,  Sarah  Potter,  born  Au- 
gust 22,  1690,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Selleck)  Potter.  The  parents  of  Sarah 
(Selleck)  Potter  were  John  and  Sarah 
(Law)  Selleck.  Sarah  (Law)  Selleck 
was  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Margaret 
(Kilbourne)  Law. 

(III)  Jonathan  (2)  Maltby,  eldest 
child  of  Jonathan  (1)  and  Sarah  (Potter) 
Maltby,  was  born  June  29,  1720.  He  mar- 
ried Abigail  Holmes,  of  Greenwich,  and 
their  only  child  was  Jonathan,  of  whom 
further. 

(IV)  Captain  Jonathan  (3)  Maltby,  son 
of  Jonathan  (2)  and  Abigail  (Holmes) 
Maltby,  was  born  December  17,  1744.  He 
was  a  sea  captain  in  the  East  Indies 
trade,   and   lived   in   one   of  the   historic 


62 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


houses  named  in  the  "History  of  Fair- 
field County"  as  "Colonial  No.  4."  This 
house  was  built  in  1766  by  Isaac  Tucker, 
who  sold  it  to  Captain  Maltby,  by  whom 
it  was  occupied  during  the  Revolution, 
being  one  of  the  few  left  standing  at  the 
burning  of  Fairfield.  Henry  Rowland,  a 
grandson,  in  writing  some  reminiscences, 
states :  "Grandfather  Maltby's  house  was 
reserved  as  a  cook  house.  After  the  con- 
flagration, when  the  British  had  gone 
aboard  their  ships  the  inhabitants  re- 
turned. Grandfather  Maltby,  on  return- 
ing to  his  house,  found  all  their  valuable 
china  scooped  off  the  shelves  to  the  floor 
and  broken  to  pieces,  and  everything  up- 
side down.  In  the  kitchen  fire-place  hung 
a  large  brass  kettle  filled  with  their  hams, 
but  they  dared  not  eat  them,  fearing  they 
were  poisoned,  so  they  started  anew  with 
provisions."  Captain  Maltby's  son,  Wil- 
liam Maltby,  inherited  the  place  and  sold 
it  to  Justice  Hobart.  The  house  is  still 
standing  in  good  condition  (1921).  Jon- 
athan (3)  Maltby  was  first  lieutenant  of 
the  "Trumbull,"  one  of  the  first  cruisers 
built  for  the  Continental  navy,  Dudley 
Saltonstall,  commander.  She  went  into 
service  about  April,  1780,  carrying  twen- 
ty-eight guns  and  a  crew  of  two  hundred. 
Her  first  engagement  under  Captain 
Nicholson  occurred  June  2nd  of  the  same 
year  with  the  "Watt"  ("Wasp?"),  an 
English  letter-of-marque,  under  Captain 
Colehart.  She  carried  thirty-four  guns 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The 
"Watt"  was  a  private  vessel  with  a  cargo 
of  great  value,  and  was  especially 
equipped  to  fight  her  way.  This  was  the 
first  action  of  any  moment  that  occurred 
in  1780,  and  was  known  as  the  most  ob- 
stinate and  sanguinary  naval  battle  during 
the  Revolution.  The  "Trumbull,"  being 
badly  disabled,  failed  to  capture  the 
"Watt,"  although  she  defeated  her.  The 
next  summer,  1781,  she  left  the  Delaware, 


still  under  Captain  Nicholson,  having 
been  thoroughly  equipped  as  convoy  to 
twenty-eight  sail  of  merchant  craft  bound 
for  Cape  Francois,  West  Indies.  Off  the 
capes  the  "Trumbull"  met  three  British 
cruisers  astern.  Two  of  them,  one  a 
frigate,  stood  for  the  "Trumbull,"  which 
ship,  by  hauling  up,  gained  the  wind  of 
them.  While  standing  on  in  this  man- 
ner, hoping  for  the  darkness,  which  was 
fast  approaching,  a  gale  carried  away  the 
"Trumbull's"  foretopmast,  which  in  fall- 
ing brought  down  the  main-gallantmast. 
She  was  otherwise  disabled  and,  night 
coming  on,  was  unable  to  clear  up  the 
wreck.  At  ten  o'clock  the  "Iris,"  thirty- 
two  guns,  one  of  the  vessels  in  chase, 
closed  with  her  and  forced  her  to  combat. 
In  the  midst  of  rain  and  tempestuous 
winds,  Captain  Nicholson  found  himself 
obligated  to  go  to  quarters  or  to  strike 
without  resistance.  He  preferred  to  do 
the  first,  but  the  English  volunteers  on 
board,  instead  of  obeying  orders,  went  be- 
low, extinguished  lights,  and  secreted 
themselves.  Nearly  half  the  remaining 
men  followed  their  example,  and  Captain 
Nicholson  could  not  muster  even  fifty 
of  the  diminished  crew  he  had  at  the 
guns.  The  battle  that  followed  might  be 
said  to  have  been  fought  by  the  officers. 
These  brave  men,  sustained  by  a  party 
of  petty  officers  and  seamen,  manned  a 
few  of  the  big  guns  for  more  than  an  hour, 
and  when  the  "General  Monk,"  eighteen 
guns,  came  up  and  joined  in  the  fire  of  the 
"Iris,"  the  "Trumbull"  submitted.  The 
"Trumbull,"  after  her  capture,  was  towed 
into  New  York  Harbor  and  condemned. 
Though  unsuccessful  in  her  battles,  she 
still  fought  two  of  the  most  famous  fights 
that  took  place  on  the  ocean  during  the 
exciting  times  of  the  Revolution.  Jon- 
athan Maltby  was  afterward  appointed 
master  of  the  "Argus,"  a  cutter  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States  for  the  pro- 


63 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


tection  of  the  revenue.  The  commission 
of  Jonathan  Maltby  as  lieutenant  is  dated 
October  12,  1776,  and  is  signed  by  John 
Hancock.  His  commission  as  captain  is 
dated  March  21,  1791,  and  is  signed  by 
George  Washington.  In  December,  1775, 
Lieutenant  Jonathan  Maltby  was  on  the 
"Alfred,"  its  captain,  Dudley  Saltonstall ; 
first  lieutenant,  John  Paul  Jones;  and  sec- 
ond lieutenant,  Jonathan  Maltby. 

Captain  Jonathan  (3)  Maltby  married, 
October  23,  1768,  Elizabeth  Allen,  born 
in  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  April  13,  1749, 
daughter  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  David 
and  Sarah  (Gold)  Allen,  of  Fairfield. 
Their  daughter,  Hannah,  married  Stephen 
Coley  Lynes  (see  Lynes  VI).  Elizabeth 
(Allen)  Maltby  was  a  great-granddaugh- 
ter of  Lieutenant  Gideon  Allen,  and  a 
granddaughter  of  Gideon  Allen,  Jr.,  born 
about  1675,  married  Annah  Burr,  born 
1675,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Sarah 
(Ward)  Burr.  Nathaniel  Burr  was  a  son 
of  John  Burr,  and  died  February  26,  1712. 
John  Burr  was  born  in  England  about 
1600,  and  died  in  Fairfield,  Connecticut, 
in  1670.  Sarah  (Ward)  Burr  was  the 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Esther  Ward. 
Andrew  Ward  was  a  freeman  in  1634,  and 
with  Ludlow  and  others  had  a  commis- 
sion from  Massachusetts  to  govern  the 
people  of  Connecticut  for  one  year,  yet 
the  date  of  his  removal  to  Stamford  is 
1641  and  he  was  probably  governor  until 
that  time.  Sarah  (Gold)  Allen  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Joanna  (Hawley) 
Gold,  granddaughter  of  Hon.  Nathan 
Gold.  The  latter  lived  in  Fairfield.  He 
married  Hannah  Talcott.  Their  son, 
John  Gold,  married  (first)  Hannah  Slaw- 
son ;  (second)  Johannah  (Joanna)  Haw- 
ley. Hon.  Nathan  Gold  was  the  son  of 
Major  Nathan  Gold,  who  came  from  St. 
Edmundsbury,  England,  to  Fairfield, 
Connecticut,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. 
and  became  a  landholder  in  Fairfield  in 
1649. 


WHEELER,  Arthur  Canfield, 

Manufacturer,  Publisher,  Man  of  Affair*. 

In  a  busy  career  that  has  included  val- 
uable public  service  in  addition  to  pro- 
ductive private  activity,  Arthur  Canfield 
Wheeler  has  been  prominently  known  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  his  birthplace,  as 
manufacturer,  publisher,  and  man  of  af- 
fairs, while  the  full  circle  of  his  relation- 
ships has  brought  him  into  touch  with  all 
the  best  interests  of  his  city.  He  is  a 
member  of  an  old  New  England  family, 
son  of  Charles  Henry  and  Ann  Eliza 
(Canfield)  Wheeler,  grandson  of  Benja- 
min and  Permelia  (Bouton)  Wheeler, 
and  great-grandson  of  Simeon  Wheeler, 
of  Wilton,  Connecticut. 

(I)  Benjamin  Wheeler,  grandfather  of 
Arthur  C.  Wheeler,  was  born  June  17, 
1801,  died  January  12,  1880.  He  was  the 
owner  of  a  saw  and  grist  mill.  He  was  a 
devout  Methodist.  He  married,  January 
3,  1819,  Permelia  Bouton,  born  in  Ridge- 
field,  Connecticut,  February  16,  1798, 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Sally  (Bouton) 
Bouton.  The  Bouton  family  descends 
from  John  Bouton,  believed  to  have  been 
a  son  of  Count  Nicholas  Bouton.  He  was 
a  Huguenot  and  during  the  great  per- 
secution fled  to  England  and  from  there 
to  America  about  1635.  He  married 
(first)  Joan  Turney,  (second)  Abigail 
Marvin,  (third)  Mrs.  Mary  Stevenson. 
The  line  descends  through  his  son,  Jo- 
seph, and  Mary,  his  wife;  their  son  Joa- 
chin  (or  Jakin),  who  had  the  title  of  cap- 
tain and  marched  with  General  Montgom- 
ery against  Quebec ;  his  son,  Ebenezer, 
and  Abigail,  his  wife  ;  their  son,  Jesse,  and 
Rachel,  his  wife ;  their  son,  Jesse,  father 
of  Permelia  Bouton,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Wheeler.  Children  of  Benjamin  and  Per- 
melia (Bouton)  Wheeler:  1.  Betsey,  born 
December  10,  1821,  died  May  14,  1888; 
married     Rev.    Alonzo     B.     Pulling.      2. 


64 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Charles  Henry,  of  whom  further.    3.  John 
B.,  born  about  1839,  died  in  October,  191 1. 

(II)  Charles  Henry  Wheeler,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Permelia  (Bouton)  Wheeler, 
was  born  in  Ridgefield,  Connecticut,  Au- 
gust 26,  1829,  and  died  April  1,  1899. 
He  was  educated  in  Amenia  (New  York) 
Seminary,  and  as  a  young  man  taught 
school  in  Wilton,  Connecticut,  and  Lewis- 
boro,  New  York,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  head  of  a  private  school  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut.  His  talent  for 
teaching  was  a  natural  gift,  love  of  his 
calling  and  orderly,  logical  methods  of 
instruction  combining  to  make  his  work 
in  the  classroom  inspiring  and  effec- 
tive. Poor  health  caused  his  retirement 
from  the  profession  he  so  ably  repre- 
sented, and  he  became  a  foreman  in  the 
hat  factory  of  Beatty  Brothers,  remain- 
ing there  until  his  death.  He  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  gave  public- 
spirited  service  to  his  town  in  numerous 
capacities,  filling  the  office  of  first  select- 
man of  Norwalk  from  1884  to  1890,  and 
also  that  of  school  director.  He  married, 
in  Lewisboro,  New  York,  April  13,  1854, 
Ann  Eliza  Canfield,  born  July  12,  1833, 
died  May  16,  1909,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Sally  Canfield.  Both  Charles  H.  Wheeler 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  Mr.  Wheeler  a 
member  of  the  official  board  of  the  South 
Norwalk  congregation,  serving  as  clerk 
for  a  number  of  years  and  also  as  Sun- 
day school  teacher  and  superintendent. 
Children:  1.  Mary  Evelyn,  born  January 
31,  1855 ;  married,  in  September,  1880, 
Seaman  W.  Haines  (deceased),  of  Led- 
yard,  New  York,  and  she  now  resides  in 
Chula  Vista,  California.  2.  Arthur  Can- 
field,  of  whom  further.  3.  Carrie  Viola, 
born  October  28,  1858;  married,  in  June, 
1881,  Charles  W.  Littell. 

(III)  Arthur  Canfield  Wheeler,  son  of 
Charles  Henry  and  Ann  Eliza  (Canfield) 

Coon — 8 — S 


Wheeler,  was  born  in  Norwalk,  Connec- 
ticut, August  26,  1856.  His  father  was 
his  first  educational  mentor,  and  he  was 
subsequently  a  student  in  the  Norwalk 
public  schools.  As  a  youth  of  fourteen 
years  he  became  office  boy  in  the  employ 
of  Beatty  Brothers,  and  the  twenty  years 
of  his  association  with  this  firm  wit- 
nessed his  steady  advance  through  all  de- 
partments of  the  business  to  the  position 
of  confidential  clerk  in  charge  of  the 
firm's  bookkeeping  and  financial  affairs. 
In  1888  the  Beatty  brothers  retired  from 
active  life  and  Mr.  Wheeler  succeeded 
to  ownership  of  the  enterprise,  which  he 
conducted  prosperously  until  1891.  In 
that  year  he  sold  it  to  Vanderhoef  &  Com- 
pany, retaining  a  part  interest,  and  re- 
maining in  charge  as  manager  and  co- 
director  until  the  liquidation  of  the  busi- 
ness in  1916. 

Mr.  Wheeler  is  president  of  the  Hour 
Publishing  Company,  owners  of  the  "Nor- 
walk Hour,"  a  newspaper  known  through- 
out New  England  journalism  as  one  of 
the  best  published  in  cities  of  Norwalk's 
size.  Mr.  Wheeler  has  been  the  principal 
stockholder  of  this  company  since  1903, 
and  has  been  an  influential  factor  in  its 
upbuilding  to  its  present  high  standing. 
Among  his  official  business  connections 
are  directorships  in  the  National  Bank  of 
Norwalk  and  the  Fairfield  County  Sav- 
ings Bank.  He  is  also  president  of  the 
Germ-Proof  Cup  Corporation,  a  concern 
whose  sturdy  growth  promises  a  most 
successful  continuance. 

Mr.  Wheeler  has  been  a  lifelong  Repub- 
lican, and  has  been  placed  as  his  party's 
candidate  in  several  places  of  responsi- 
bility and  trust.  When  Norwalk  was  a 
borough  he  served  as  a  burgess,  and  in 
1893,  when  incorporation  was  made  as  a 
city,  he  became  a  member  of  the  first  City 
Council,  and  as  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  lights  made  the  ten  year  contract 


65 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


for  city  lighting.  In  1895  ne  was  elected 
mayor,  reelected  in  1896,  and  during 
his  administration  accomplished,  among 
other  commendable  works,  the  widening 
of  Wall  street,  the  widening  of  the  bridge 
by  eight  or  ten  feet,  and  the  laying  of 
brick  paving.  For  many  years  prior  to 
his  retirement  from  office,  about  1916,  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  chairman  of  the  School 
Board,  his  total  service  covering  a  period 
of  nearly  twenty-five  years. 

His  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  the 
Masonic  order  and  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  which  he  is  past  master,  and 
he  is  past  grand  master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Connecticut,  and  a  member  of 
the  Past  Grand  Masters'  Association.  He 
is  past  high  priest  of  Washington  Chap- 
ter, Royal  Arch  Masons;  a  member  and 
past  commander  of  Clinton  Commandery, 
No.  3,  Knights  Templar,  of  Norwalk  ;  past 
grand  commander  of  the  Grand  Com- 
mandery, and  member  of  the  Grand  En- 
campment of  the  United  States.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  Lafayette  Consistory, 
Sublime  Princes  of  the  Royal  Secret ;  and 
Pyramid  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Bridge- 
port. In  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  he  has  been  likewise  active,  and  is 
a  past  grand  of  Our  Brothers  Lodge,  past 
chief  patriarch  of  Kabosa  Encampment, 
and  past  grand  patriarch  of  the  Grand  En- 
campment of  Connecticut,  holding  the 
last  named  office  in  1899.  His  fraternal 
relations  have  been  treasured  by  him  for 
their  principles  and  symbolisms,  and  for 
their  close  fellowship  in  the  pursuit  of 
worthy  aims.  Mr.  Wheeler  is  a  member 
of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  and  has 
been  a  vestryman  for  many  years.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  council  of  the 
Nation-wide  Campaign,  and  a  member  of 
the  executive  committee,  the  finance  and 


budget  committees,  and  the  local  com- 
mittee. The  work  of  the  denomination 
has  always  received  a  generous  share  of 
his  time,  and  with  his  influence  and  his 
means  he  has  furthered  all  of  its  activities. 

Mr.  Wheeler  married,  June  23,  1880, 
Susie  Cousins,  born  in  Darien,  Connecti- 
cut, daughter  of  Thomas  Cousins,  born 
in  England,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1850  and  was  for  a  time  a  resi- 
dent of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  later  en- 
gaging in  shoe  manufacture  in  Norwalk. 
Children:  1.  Ernest  Cousins,  born  Sep- 
tember 30,  1885 ;  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
J.  &  T.  Cousins  Shoe  Company,  of  Brook- 
lyn, New  York ;  married  Edna  A.  Aus- 
tin. 2.  Harold  Arthur,  born  June  10, 
1891  ;  married  Margaret  Heath  Lane,  of 
South  Norwalk,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Frederick  Arthur,  born  December  13, 
1916. 

This  is  the  record,  in  outline,  of  the 
work  of  Arthur  C.  Wheeler,  of  Norwalk. 
It  has  been  performed  in  honor,  with 
profit  to  splendid  causes,  and  his  commu- 
nity continues  the  beneficiary  of  his  pub- 
lic-spirited, progressive  endeavor. 


THOMAS,  Edward  James, 

Journalist. 

The  Norwalk  "Hour,"  ranking  as  one 
of  the  leading  newspapers  of  New  Eng- 
land in  a  city  of  Xorwalk's  class,  has  for 
two  decades  had  as  its  publisher  Edward 
James  Thomas,  who  is  also  treasurer  and 
manager  of  the  Hour  Publishing  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  son  of  James  Thomas, 
his  family  of  Welsh  descent,  tradition 
being  that  the  Thomas  line  are  direct 
descendants  of  Sir  Rhys  ap  Thomas,  K.  G., 
who  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  an- 
cient kings  of  Wales,  and  whose  castle 
and  estates  were  forfeited  to  the  crown 
during   the   reign   of   Henry   the   Eighth. 


66 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Two  brothers  of  this  descent  came  from 
Wales  together,  one  settling  in  New  York 
and  the  other  in  New  Orleans. 

The  census  of  1790  gives  Gregory 
Thomas  as  a  resident  of  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, having  a  wife  and  one  child, 
a  daughter,  living  with  him.  Gregory 
Thomas  descended  from  John  and  Eliz- 
abeth Thomas,  of  Fairfield,  whose  son, 
Joseph  Thomas,  fought  in  the  French  and 
Indian  War,  in  1758.  (French  and  In- 
dian War  rolls,  page  15 17.)  Two  sons  of 
Joseph  and  Phoebe  (Gregory)  Thomas 
were  Nathan  and  Gregory  Thomas.  Jo- 
seph was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Mon- 
mouth, New  Jersey,  June  28,  1778.  Greg- 
ory enlisted  February  1,  1778,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  located  in  Norwalk,  died 
May  6,  181 1,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  Sil- 
vermine  Cemetery.  Among  the  children 
of  Gregory  Thomas  was  Charles,  grand- 
father of  Edward  James  Thomas.  Charles 
Thomas  was  a  lumber  merchant,  and  re- 
sided for  a  time  at  Wilton,  later  making 
Norwalk  his  home.  Charles  Thomas  mar- 
ried, about  1818,  Sarah  Crofoot,  daughter 
of  Ebenezer  and  Sarah  (Gregory)  Cro- 
foot, granddaughter  of  Joseph  and  Esther 
(St.  John)  Crofoot,  great-granddaughter 
of  Ebenezer  Crofoot,  and  great-great- 
granddaughter  of  Joseph  Crofoot.  Sarah 
(Gregory)  Crofoot,  wife  of  Ebenezer 
Crofoot,  was  descended  from  John  Greg- 
ory through  his  son,  Jachin,  his  son,  Dea- 
con Matthew,  his  son,  Ensign  Matthew, 
a  Revolutionary  soldier;  and  his  son, 
Elias  Gregory,  her  father. 

James  Thomas,  son  of  Charles  and 
Sarah  (Crofoot)  Thomas,  was  during  his 
busy  and  active  life  a  sea  captain  and 
civil  engineer.  He  was  one  of  the  sur- 
veyors for  the  proposed  parallel  railroad 
in  Connecticut,  a  project  that  never  ma- 
terialized. He  married,  in  Norwalk,  Au- 
gust 15,  1863,  Clara  Stevens  Doty,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  Reed  Doty.     (See  Doty  line). 


Edward  James  Thomas,  only  child  of 
James  and  Clara  Stevens  (Doty)  Thomas, 
was  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  Jan- 
uary 21,  1870.  He  attended  grammar 
and  high  schools  and  prepared  for  col- 
lege, but  owing  to  serious  illness  in  his 
family  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  plan. 
As  a  youth  of  fifteen  years  he  became 
employed  in  a  stationery  store,  soon  after- 
ward entering  the  Norwalk  post  office  in 
the  capacity  of  clerk.  Later  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  South  Norwalk  post  office 
as  assistant  postmaster  to  establish  the 
foreign  money  order  department  and  the 
free  delivery  system  in  that  section  of  the 
city.  His  initiative  and  ability  attracted 
the  favorable  attention  of  James  Golden, 
editor  of  the  South  Norwalk  "Sentinel," 
and  he  offered  Mr.  Thomas  a  position  as 
reporter  for  Norwalk,  which  was  ac- 
cepted. He  afterward  became  a  member 
of  the  reportorial  staff  of  the  Danbury 
"News,"  then  returned  to  Norwalk  and 
the  service  of  the  "Sentinel."  During  this 
period  he  represented  the  Associated 
Press  and  contributed  articles  to  several 
leading  New  York  newspapers,  including 
numerous  illustrated  feature  articles  for 
the  Sunday  editions.  Mr.  Thomas  re- 
mained with  the  "Sentinel"  until  Febru- 
ary 27,  1901,  when  he  became  associated 
with  the  company  which  purchased  the 
control  of  the  Norwalk  "Hour,"  then 
owned  by  the  estate  of  Brainard  W. 
Maples.  The  "Hour"  has  been,  insofar 
as  a  single  interest  can  be  said  to  have 
occupied  him,  his  life  work,  and  his  able, 
devoted  service  as  publisher,  treasurer 
and  manager  has  been  responsible  in  no 
small  measure  for  its  strong,  influential 
position  of  the  present  day.  Mr.  Thomas 
has  been  for  a  number  of  years  vice- 
president  of  the  Connecticut  Daily  News- 
paper Association.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  National  Editorial  Association,  the 
Connecticut  Editorial  Association,  the  In- 


67 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ternational  Circulation  Managers,  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation, the  New  England  Alliance  of 
Daily  Newspapers,  and  the  Employing 
Printers  of  Connecticut.  In  all  of  these 
he  has  been  active  through  committee 
service,  and  has  cooperated  heartily  in 
their  work. 

In  other  associations  that  are  distinc- 
tively Norwalk's,  Mr.  Thomas  has  like- 
wise taken  a  leading  part.  He  was  one 
of  the  fathers  of  the  Fourth  of  July  Mar- 
di  Gras,  an  annual  institution  that  has 
made  Norwalk  noted  throughout  the  State 
for  her  Independence  Day  celebration. 
He  was  an  organizer  of  the  Alpha  Wheel 
Club,  an  organization  that  gained  fame 
far  beyond  the  confines  of  Norwalk.  Mr. 
Thomas  has  always  been  a  Republican, 
and  although  he  has  always  held  decided 
views  on  public  affairs  and  issues,  has 
never  entered  public  life.  Norwalk  has 
had  no  more  loyal  champion  than  he,  and 
all  causes  advancing  the  prosperity  and 
welfare  of  his  city  number  him  among 
their  energetic  supporters.  He  is  a  Ma- 
son in  fraternal  affiliation,  holding  the 
thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  member  of 
St.  John's  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons ;  Washington  Chapter,  Royal  Arch 
Masons ;  Clinton  Commandery,  Knights 
Templar,  all  of  Norwalk:  and  Lafayette 
Consistory,  Sovereign  Princes  of  the 
Royal  Secret ;  and  Pyramid  Temple, 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  both  of 
Bridgeport.  In  the  days  of  the  popular- 
ity of  the  bicycle,  Mr.  Thomas  was  an  ex- 
pert cyclist.  He  has  always  been  fond 
of  out-door  recreation,  and  with  the  in- 
troduction of  the  automobile  was  an  early 
owner,  now  an  enthusiastic  motorist.  For 
forty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Norwalk  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwalk  Club  and 
the  Craftsmen's  Club. 

Mr.  Thomas  married,  in  Norwalk,  April 


8,  1891,  Nellie  May  Kellogg,  daughter  of 
Martin  (3)  and  Jennie  (Pooley)  Kellogg. 
(See  Kellogg  line). 

(The  Doty  Line). 

Abner  Doty,  parents'  names  not  known, 
was  probably  descended  from  Isaac  Doty, 
the  first  of  that  name  from  Oyster  Bay, 
Long  Island.  Abner  was  a  farmer  and 
lived  at  Southeast,  Putnam  county,  New 
York.  He  died  about  1797.  Among  his 
children  was  Abner. 

Abner  (2)  Doty,  son  of  Abner  (1)  Doty, 
was  born  at  Southeast,  Putnam  county, 
New  York,  about  1781,  and  died  about 
1822.  He  lived  at  Southeast,  Mount 
Washington,  and  Amenia.  He  married, 
at  Southeast,  in  1802,  Esther  Reed,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Reed.  Among  his  children 
was  Isaac  Reed. 

Isaac  Reed  Doty,  son  of  Abner  (2)  and 
Esther  (Reed)  Doty,  was  born  in  Mount 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  New  York, 
June  13,  1813,  and  lived  in  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  died  April  23,  1882. 
The  following  is  quoted  from  an  obituary 
notice:  "He  was  a  man  of  earnest  nature, 
firm  in  his  convictions,  and  could  not  be 
swerved  from  what  he  believed  to  be  his 
duty.  He  served  the  town  for  many  years 
as  constable  and  grand  juror.  He  was  a 
hard  working  and  cautious  business  man." 
He  married,  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut, 
April  2,  1834,  Mary  Ann  Disbrow,  born 
September  12,  1812,  daughter  of  Phineas 
Sherwood  and  Rhuamy  (Murray)  Dis- 
brow. They  were  the  parents  of  Clara 
Stevens  Doty,  born  December  17,  1839, 
who  married  James  Thomas. 

(The  Kellogg  Line). 

According  to  family  tradition.  Great 
Britain  was  the  original  home  of  the  Kel- 
logg family,  and  there  are  a  number  of 
legends  to  that  effect.  The  most  general 
is  that  advanced  by  Hon.  Day  Otis  Kel- 
logg,  formerly  United   States   Consul   at 


68 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Glasgow,  and  one  of  the  earliest  collec- 
tors of  Kellogg  data.  He  relates  the  tra- 
dition that  the  Kelloggs  were  partisans 
of  James  VI.,  of  Scotland,  and  came  with 
him  to  England  when  he  ascended  the 
British  throne,  and  remained  there  until 
their  settlement  in  New  England.  He 
says  that  the  name  is  derived  from  two 
Gaelic  words,  kill,  a  cemetery,  and  loch,  a 
lake,  that  is,  the  "Family  of  the  Lake 
Cemetery."  The  name  is  found  in  old 
English  records  as  early  as  1420,  and 
County  Essex,  England,  is  the  earliest 
home  of  the  Kelloggs.  In  the  Lay  Subsidy 
Rolls  of  Debben,  County  Essex,  January, 
1525,  Nicholas  Kellogg,  of  Debben,  and 
William  Debben  are  taxed  on  "mov- 
ables." 

Nicholas  Kellogg  was  born  about  1488, 
and  was  buried  at  Debben,  May  17,  1558. 
He  married  Florence  Hall,  daughter  of 
William  Hall ;  she  was  buried  November 
8,  1571.  Among  their  children  was  Tho- 
mas. 

Thomas  Kellogg,  son  of  Nicholas  and 
Florence  (Hall)  Kellogg,  resided  in  Deb- 
ben. 

Phillipe  Kellogg,  the  first  English  an- 
cestor from  whom  the  Kelloggs  of  the 
New  World  can  with  certainty  trace  their 
descent,  was  probably  the  son  of  Thomas, 
and  grandson  of  Nicholas.  Among  his 
children  was  Martin. 

Martin  Kellogg,  son  of  Phillipe  Kel- 
logg, was  baptized  at  Great  Leighs,  No- 
vember 23,  1595.  He  married,  in  County 
Hertford,  October  22, 1621,  Prudence  Bird, 
daughter  of  John  Bird.  He  died  in  Brain- 
tree,  England,  between  May  20,  1671, 
when  his  will  was  made,  and  September 
20,  1671,  when  it  was  proved.  He  was 
the  father  of  Daniel. 

Daniel  Kellogg,  son  of  Martin  and  Pru- 
dence (Bird)  Kellogg,  was  baptized  in 
Great  Leighs,  England,  February  6,  1630, 
and  died  in  1688.    It  is  not  known  exactly 


when  he  came  to  New  England.  He  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, which  was  incorporated  Septem- 
ber 11,  1651.  He  was  selectman,  1670; 
representative  to  the  General  Court,  1670- 
1672-74-75-77-79-80-83.  He  married  Brid- 
get Bouton,  daughter  of  John,  Sr.  and 
Alice  Bouton ;  she  died  in  1698.  Among 
their  nine  children  was  Daniel  (2). 

Daniel  (2)  Kellogg,  son  of  Daniel  (1) 
and  Bridget  (Bouton)  Kellogg,  was  born 
in  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  May  7,  1671. 
It  is  not  known  whom  he  married.  He 
died  at  Norwalk  before  July  28,  1709,  as 
his  estate,  valued  at  £504,  was  appraised 
on  that  date.     His  eldest  child  was  Dan- 

id  (3). 

Daniel  (3)  Kellogg,  son  of  Daniel  (2) 
Kellogg,  was  born  at  Norwalk,  May  7, 
1698,  died  1762.  He  married,  in  Hunting- 
ton, Long  Island,  Eunice  Jarvis,  of  that 
town,  born  1703,  died  1767,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Jarvis.    They  had  eight  children. 

Jarvis  Kellogg,  son  of  Daniel  (3)  and 
Eunice  (Jarvis)  Kellogg,  was  born  at 
Norwalk,  in  1731,  died  March  22,  1815. 
.He  was  a  farmer,  lived  in  Norwalk,  and 
served  in  Lieutenant  Carter's  company 
in  the  Revolution.  He  married  (first) 
January  10,  1760,  Elizabeth  Smith,  who 
died  in  1778.  He  married  (second)  in 
1781,  Hannah  Meeker,  who  died  in  1832. 

Deacon  Jarvis  (2)  Kellogg,  son  of  Jar- 
vis (1)  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Kellogg, 
was  born  at  Norwalk,  April  20,  1768,  and 
died  July  18,  1831.  He  married  in  1792, 
Mercy  Selleck,  born  June  12,  1770,  died  in 
1850,  daughter  of  Captain  James  Selleck, 
a  Revolutionary  soldier. 

Martin  (2)  Kellogg,  son  of  Deacon  Jar- 
vis (2)  and  Mercy  (Selleck)  Kellogg,  was 
born  at  Norwalk,  July  3,  1808,  and  died 
May  14,  1867.  He  resided  in  Norwalk, 
New  Canaan,  Connecticut,  and  Bedford, 
New  York.  He  married  (first)  October 
15,   1828,  Jane  Gray,  born  in   1809,   died 


69 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


in  1840,  daughter  of  Stiles  and  Helena 
Gray.  He  married  (second)  Clarissa  Jane 
Lockwood,  daughter  of  Pelegand  Clarissa 
(Dann)   Lockwood. 

Martin  (3)  Kellogg,  son  of  Martin  (2) 
and  Clarissa  Jane  (Lockwood)  Kellogg, 
was  born  October  19,  1846.  He  was  street 
commissioner  of  Norwalk.  He  married, 
at  New  Canaan,  Connecticut,  June  2J, 
1867,  Jennie  Pooley,  born  at  Huntington, 
Long  Island,  August  17,  1852,  daughter 
of  James  and  Maria  Jane  Pooley.  He 
was  the  father  of  Nellie  May  Kellogg, 
born  at  Norwalk,  April  24,  1873;  married, 
in  Norwalk,  April  8,  1891,  Edward  James 
Thomas  (see  Thomas  line). 


NEILSON,  Howard  Stout, 

Physician,  Served  in  World  'War. 

Two  brothers  named  Neilson  emigrated 
to  America  from  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
Their  father,  John  Neilson,  was  a  cele- 
brated surgeon  of  Dublin,  and  was  pro- 
fessor of  surgery  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Dublin.  This 
university  was  founded  in  1591  and  has 
a  single  college,  Trinity.  There  was  a 
monument  erected  to  Dr.  John  Neilson  in 
Dublin,  which  was  recently  destroyed  in 
Sinn  Fein  riots.  James  Neilson,  who 
came  first,  established  himself  in  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  He  was  wealthy, 
was  a  trader,  and  had  vessels  sailing  to 
Belfast,  Madeira,  and  the  West  Indies. 
He  was  a  judge,  a  member  of  Council,  and 
a  warm  friend  of  the  Revolution.  He 
married  and  left  no  issue. 

(I)  Dr.  John  Neilson,  younger  brother 
of  James  Neilson,  born  1717,  was  a  phy- 
sician, and  died  March  19,  1745.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Coeymans,  of  Coeymans 
Manor,  below  Albany,  New  York.  Chil- 
dren :  Gertrude  ;  John,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  John  (2)  Neilson,  son  of  Dr.  John 


(1)  and  Catherine  (Coeymans)  Neilson, 
was  born  March  11,  1745,  on  the  old  home- 
stead of  the  New  Jersey  branch  of  the 
Coeymans,  on  the  Raritan  river,  near 
Somerville,  New  Jersey,  and  died  in  New 
Brunswick,  March  3,  1833.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  then 
went  to  live  in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jer- 
sey, with  his  uncle,  James  Neilson.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  John  Neil- 
son raised  a  company  of  volunteers,  and 
was  made  captain.  He  was  in  the  expedi- 
tion to  the  east  end  of  Long  Island  to 
disarm  Tories.  On  August  31,  1775,  he 
was  commissioned  colonel,  and  August  i, 
1776,  commanded  the  First  Regiment  of 
Infantry  of  his  county.  In  December  of 
that  year  he  planned  a  surprise  attack  on 
the  British  quartered  on  Bennett's  Island, 
which  was  made  the  following  February 
18th,  and  was  brilliantly  successful.  In 
1780  he  was  deputy  quartermaster-gen- 
eral of  New  Jersey.  The  following  is 
quoted  from  the  Daughters  of  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution  Lineage  Book,  No.  16,345  : 
"General  John  Neilson,  born  1745,  died 
1833,  served  as  colonel  with  minute  men, 
I775!  brigadier-general  of  militia,  1777; 
deputy  quartermaster-general  at  close  of 
war.  Lafayette  presented  him  with  a 
sword.  He  was  born  in  New  Brunswick, 
died  there ;  married  Catherine  Voorhees." 
After  the  war  he  was  one  of  the  state 
convention  which  ratified  the  constitution. 
He  retired  to  private  life  and  resumed 
mercantile  business,  and  in  civil  life  long 
exerted  a  commanding  influence.  A 
street  in  New  Brunswick  is  called  Neilson 
street,  and  a  military  company  assumed 
the  title  "Neilson  Guards."  General  Neil- 
son was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
and  influential  men  of  New  Brunswick. 
When  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  brought  from  Philadelphia  he  read  it 
to  an  assembled  multitude  in  the  streets 
of  New  Brunswick.     He  was  one  of  the 


70 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


early  members  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  New 
Brunswick.  He  was  married,  December 
31,  1768,  to  Catherine  Voorhees  (see  Van 
Voorhees  line).  John  and  Catherine 
(Voorhees)  Neilson  were  the  parents  of: 

1.  Joanna,  born  July  30,  1771,  died  1773. 

2.  John,  born  April  3,  1775,  married,  1798, 
Abigail  Bleecker.  3.  Joanna,  born  Janu- 
ary 26,  1777,  died  1781.  4.  Gertrude,  born 
April  25,  1780,  died  1863;  married  George 
Spofford  Woodhull.  5.  Catherine,  born 
March  28,  1783;  married,  in  1804,  Augus- 
tus Fitz  Randolph.  6.  James,  born  De- 
cember 3,  1784,  died  1862;  married  (first) 
Rivini  Forman ;  (second)  Jane  Dunlap; 
(third)  Harriet  Benedict;  (fourth)  Cath- 
erine Bleeker.  7.  Joanna,  born  June  7, 
1786,  died  1858,  unmarried.  8.  Abraham 
Schuyler,  of  whom  further.  9.  Cornelia 
Lott,  born  November  19,  1794,  died  1797. 

(III)  Abraham  Schuyler  Neilson,  son 
of  John  (2)  and  Catherine  (Voorhees) 
Neilson,  was  born  September  10,  1792, 
and  died  June  30,  1861.  He  married,  in 
New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  June  6, 
1815,  Catherine  Stevens  Grant.  Children: 
William  Howard,  of  whom  further ;  Mary 
E.,  married  T.  Robinson  Warren ;  prob- 
ably others. 

(IV)  William  Howard  Neilson,  son  of 
Abraham  Schuyler  and  Catherine  Stevens 
(Grant)  Neilson,  was  born  January  12, 
1820.  He  married  Hannah  Maria  Hoover. 
They  were  the  parents  of  Charles  Hoover, 
of  whom  further. 

(V)  Charles  Hoover  Neilson,  son  of 
William  Howard  and  Hannah  Maria 
(Hoover)  Neilson,  was  married,  October 
7,  1873,  to  Kate  Strandley  Pritchard  (see 
Pritchard  line).  Their  son,  Howard 
Stout,  of  whom  further.  Mrs.  Neilson 
married  (second)  William  H.  Bishop. 

(VI)  Howard  Stout  Neilson,  son  of 
Charles  Hoover  and  Kate  Strandley 
(Pritchard)    Neilson,   was   born   in   New 


York  City,  August  30,  1874.  He  pre- 
pared for  college  at  Peekskill  Academy, 
and  then  entered  the  New  York  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  College  and  Hospital, 
whence  he  was  graduated  M.  D.  in  1895. 
At  graduation  he  received  the  honorary 
mention  medal  for  his  thesis  on  fractures 
and  dislocations,  and  while  at  college  he 
served  as  surgical  editor  of  the  "Chiron- 
ian."  He  was  an  interne  at  the  Flower 
Hospital  in  1895-96,  demonstrator  of  an- 
atomy from  1896  to  1901,  lecturer  on 
pathology  from  1900  to  1902,  and  chief 
demonstrator  of  pathology  in  1903.  In 
the  last  named  year  he  resigned  from  the 
faculty  and  withdrew  from  medical  prac- 
tice. 

Dr.  Neilson  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Home  Bank  and  Trust  Company  of 
Darien,  and  was  its  vice-president  from 
its  founding  until  1920,  when  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  presidency  of  the  institution, 
his  present  office.  He  became  a  resident 
of  Darien  in  1903,  and  in  1906  built  one  of 
the  finest  residences  of  this  section  of  the 
State.  His  estate  is  named  "Althea 
Farm,"  and  here  he  has  for  eighteen  years 
given  much  time  and  attention  to  the 
breeding  of  blooded  horses,  having  for 
some  time  past  centered  his  efforts  on 
Arab  and  Arab-thoroughbred  cross.  He 
has  exhibited  the  best  of  his  stables  at 
numerous  horse  shows  in  the  East,  and 
his  work  is  well  known  among  breeders. 

On  March  28,  1917,  Dr.  Neilson  was 
commissioned  captain  in  the  remount 
service  of  the  United  States  army,  and 
while  on  duty  in  the  United  States  pur- 
chased thousands  of  horses  for  army  use, 
traveling  to  all  parts  of  the  country  on 
this  mission.  He  was  ordered  to  France 
in  March,  1918,  commissioned  major,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1918,  and  remained  on  active 
duty  until  February  21,  1919.  He  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  Remount 
Board  by  special  order  No.  65,  War  De- 


71 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


partment,  May  17,  1919.  On  December 
19,  1919,  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel 
in  Reserve  Corps,  Remount  Section. 

Dr.  Neilson  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Alpha  Sigma  fraternity,  and  a  member 
of  the  Connecticut  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture ;  Connecticut  State  Welfare  Com- 
mission ;  Darien  School  Board ;  Breeding 
Committee  United  States  Remount  Asso- 
ciation ;  Army  and  Navy  Club  of  Amer- 
ica ;  Grolier  Club,  New  York ;  Bibliophile 
Society,  Boston  ;  secretary-treasurer  Ara- 
bian Horse  Club  of  America;  member 
Arab  Horse  Club  of  England ;  Hackney 
Horse  Society ;  National  Pony  Breeders' 
Association,  England ;  Morgan  Horse 
Club ;  Horse  Association  of  America ; 
American  Jersey  Cattle  Club ;  New  Eng- 
land Shorthorn  Breeders'  Association; 
New  England  Dairymen's  Association; 
Hampshire  Swine  Breeders'  Association ; 
New  York  Zoological  Society ;  Stamford 
Yacht  Club ;  Woodway  Country  Club. 

Dr.  Neilson  married,  June  4,  1901,  Jane 
Wallace  Piatt,  daughter  of  Isaac  Stephen 
and  Mary  Jane  (Redfield)  Piatt  (see  Piatt 
and  Redfield  lines).  Isaac  S.  Piatt  is  a 
member  of  the  New  York  Chamber  of 
Commerce.  Children :  Jane  Wallace  and 
Katharine  Bishop  (twins),  born  April  8, 
1902 ;  Wallace  Piatt,  born  November  24, 
1903 ;  Marion  Redfield,  born  February  9, 
1907;  Edith  Howard,  born  November  17, 

i9r3- 

(The  Van  Voorhees  Line). 

(I)  Stephen  (Steven)  Coert  Van  Voor- 
hees was  born  in  Hees,  Holland,  in  1600, 
emigrated  to  America  in  1660,  settling  in 
Flatlands,  Long  Island,  and  died  there  in 
1684.  He  married  in  Holland,  and  among 
his  children  was  Lucas  Stevense,  of  whom 
further. 

(II)  Lucas  Stevense  Van  Voorhees, 
son  of  Stephen  Coert  Van  Voorhees,  was 
born  in  1650.  He  married  (first)  Cath- 
erine  Hansen   Van    Noortstrand,   daugh- 


ter of  Hans  and  Jannecken  Gerritse 
Van  Loon;  (second),  in  1689,  Jannetje 
Minnes ;  (third),  in  1703,  Catherine  Van 
Dyck.  Among  his  children  was  Jan  Lu- 
casse,  of  whom  further. 

(III)  Jan  Lucasse  Van  Voorhees,  son 
of  Lucas  Stevense  and  Catherine  Hansen 
(Van  Noortstrand)  Van  Voorhees,  was 
baptized  February  19,  1675.  He  married 
(first)  Ann  Van  Duyckhuysen,  daughter 
of  Jan  Teunnisen  and  Agatha  (StoothofT) 
Van  Duyckhuysen;  (second)  in  1704, 
Mayke  R.  Schenck.  Among  his  children 
was  Johannis,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Johannis  Van  Voorhees,  son  of 
Jan  Lucasse  and  Ann  (Van  Duyckhuysen) 
Van  Voorhees,  was  born  July  19,  1700 
and  died  in  1733.  He  married,  in  1721, 
Sara  Schenck,  daughter  of  Jan  Rolofse 
and  Sara  (Kouwenhoven)  Schenck,  and 
among  his  children  was  Johannis,  of 
whom  further. 

(V)  Johannis  (2)  Van  Voorhees,  son 
of  Johannis  (1)  and  Sara  (Schenck)  Van 
Voorhees,  was  born  November  18,  1729, 
and  died  in  1802.  He  was  a  minuteman 
in  the  Middlesex,  New  Jersey,  militia.  He 
married  Catherine  Schuyler,  born  1733, 
died  1782. 

(VI)  Catherine  Voorhees  (Van  Voor- 
hees), daughter  of  Johannis  (2)  and 
Catherine  (Schuyler)  Van  Voorhees,  was 
born  December  25,  1753,  and  died  August 
2,  1816.  She  married.  December  31,  1768, 
Colonel  John  Neilson  (q.  v.). 

(The   Tritchard   Line). 

(I)  James  Pritchard,  of  Prowley,  Eng- 
land, was  born  in  London,  February  2, 
1788,  died  in  New  York,  January  30,  1823, 
and  was  buried  in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard. 
He  was  an  actor  of  note.  He  married, 
July  24,  181 1,  Catrina  Lewis  (see  Lewis 
and  Van  Benschoten  lines).  She  died  of 
cholera  in  La  Grange,  Dutchess  county, 
New  York,  September  10,  1846,  and  was 
buried    in    Freedom    Plains    Churchyard. 


72 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Children,  born  in  New  York  City:  John 
Nicholas,  of  whom  further;  William  Ed- 
ward, born  November  15,  1815,  died 
young;  James  William,  born  January  17, 
1817,  killed  November  20,  1834,  married 
Caroline  Turnbull. 

(II)  John  Nicholas  Pritchard,  son  of 
James  and  Catrina  (Lewis).  Pritchard, 
was  born  in  New  York,  July  13,  1812,  and 
died  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  August  19, 
1888.  He  was  in  the  banking  business  in 
early  life,  but  for  the  last  forty  years  of 
his  life  was  president  of  the  Lumbermen's 
&  Mechanics'  Insurance  Company  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri.  He  organized  the  Na- 
tional Guard  of  St.  Louis,  was  captain 
of  the  first  company,  afterwards  colonel 
of  the  regiment.  He  married,  July  28, 
1835,  Amelia  J.  Stubbs,  born  in  George- 
town, Maryland,  July  26,  1813,  died  in 
New  York,  August  20,  1890.  Children: 
James,  born  October  21,  1836;  Fannie  I., 
born  June  17,  1838,  married,  1859,  William 
Tod  Helmuth ;  Katherine  Strandley,  of 
whom  further ;  Nicholas  W.  R.,  born  Sep- 
tember 20,  1856,  died  April  20,  1861. 

(III)  Katherine  Strandley  Pritchard, 
daughter  of  John  Nicholas  and  Amelia  J. 
(Stubbs)  Pritchard,  was  born  October 
17,  1849.  She  married  (first)  Charles 
Hoover  Neilson  (see  Neilson  line).  She 
married  (second)  William  H.  Bishop. 

(The  Lewis  Line). 

(I)  Leonard  Lewis  married,  November 
16,  1688,  Elizabeth  Hardenburg.  He  re- 
moved to  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  was 
colonel  in  the  militia,  and  kept  the  first 
tavern.  He  married  Elizabeth  Harden- 
burg. He  had  son  Thomas,  of  whom 
further. 

(II)  Thomas  Lewis,  son  of  Leonard 
and  Elizabeth  (Hardenburg)  Lewis,  was 
born  August  23,  1694,  and  died  in  1766. 
He  married,  October  4,  1714,  Anna  Maria 
Vander  Burgh.  He  had  son  Leonard,  of 
whom  further. 


(III)  Leonard  (2)  Lewis  son  of  Tho- 
mas and  Anna  Maria  (Vander  Burgh) 
Lewis,  was  baptized  in  Poughkeepsie, 
July  6,  1720,  and  died  before  1766.  He 
had  son  Thomas,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Thomas  (2)  Lewis,  son  of  Leon- 
ard (2)  Lewis,  married,  in  1776,  Rachel 
Van  Benschoten  (see  Van  Benschoten 
line).  Among  his  children  was  Catrina, 
born  February  19,  1779,  married,  July  24, 
181 1,  James  Pritchard  (see  Pritchard 
line). 

(The  Van  Benschoten  Line). 

(I)  Theunis  Eliasen  Van  Benschoten 
was  in  Kingston,  New  York,  in  1671.  He 
died  between  February,  1725-26,  and  Feb- 
ruary, 1727-28.  He  married  Gerritje 
Gerrits,  parentage  unknown,  and  had  son 
Elias,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Elias  Van  Benschoten,  son  of 
Theunis  Eliasen  and  Gerritje  (Gerrits) 
Van  Benschoten,  was  baptized  November 
23,  1679,  in  Kingston.  He  married  (first) 
in  1705,  Sarah  Jans  Jansen,  daughter  of 
Jans  Mattysen  Jansen  and  Magdalena 
(Blanchan)  Jansen;  married  (second)  in 
1716,  Catrina  Keyser,  daughter  of  Dirk 
Cornelius  and  Agnietta  (Coens)  Keyser. 
Among  their  children  was  Elias,  of  whom 
further. 

(III)  Elias  (2)  Van  Benschoten,  son 
of  Elias  (1)  and  Catrina  (Keyser)  Van 
Benschoten,  was  born  April  23,  1717.  He 
married  Jaquemyntje  Van  Couwenhoven, 
daughter  of  Johannes  and  Rachel  (Ben- 
son) Van  Couwenhoven.  Among  their 
children  was  Rachel,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Rachel  Van  Benschoten,  daugh- 
ter of  Elias  (2)  and  Jaquemyntje  (Van 
Couwenhoven)  Van  Benschoten,  was 
born  September  12,  1761.  She  married, 
in  1776,  Thomas  Lewis  (see  Lewis  line). 

(The  Piatt  Line). 

It  is  well  known  that  the  name  Piatt 
is  frequently  found  in  various  parts  of 
England.        Coats-of-arms      have      been 


73 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


granted  to  six  or  seven  of  the  family  from 
the  time  of  Edward  III,  1326,  to  the  twen- 
ty-first year  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth. The  first  ancestor  in  America  was 
Richard  Piatt,  believed  to  have  been  the 
"Richard,  son  of  Joseph"  baptized  Sep- 
tember 28,  1603,  in  Bovington,  a  village 
near  Hertford,  England,  died  in  Milford, 
1684.  He  came  to  America  in  1638, 
landed  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and 
had  eighty-four  acres  of  land  in  and  near 
New  Haven.  He  was  among  the  first 
settlers  in  Milford,  Connecticut,  and  was 
deacon  there  in  1669.  His  children  by 
his  wife  Mary,  who  died  in  January,  1676, 
were :  Mary,  probably  born  in  England, 
as  were  John,  Isaac,  of  whom  further,  and 
Sarah ;  Epenetus,  of  whom  further ;  Han- 
nah, baptized  October  1,  1643;  Josiah, 
baptized  1645 !  Joseph,  baptized  1649. 

Isaac  Piatt,  son  of  Richard  Piatt,  set- 
tled in  Huntington,  Long  Island,  and  was 
enrolled  among  the  fifty-seven  landown- 
ers of  that  place  in  1666.  He  was  a  cap- 
tain of  militia,  and  held  "every  office  of 
consequence  in  the  gift  of  his  townsmen." 
He  died  July  31,  1691.  He  married  (first) 
March  12,  1640,  Phebe  Smith;  (second) 
after  1660,  Elizabeth  Wood,  daughter  of 
Jonas  Wood.  Children :  Elizabeth,  born 
1665  !  Jonas,  born  1667;  John,  born  1669; 
Mary,  born  1674 ;  Joseph,  born  1677 ;  Ja- 
cob, born  1682 ;  and  others. 

Epenetus  Piatt,  son  of  Richard  Piatt, 
born  in  Milford,  baptized  July  12,  1640, 
was  called  captain,  sometimes  lieutenant, 
and  held  many  offices.  He  also  settled  in 
Huntington,  Long  Island,  and  was  en- 
rolled among  the  fifty-seven  landowners 
of  that  place  in  1666.  He  died  in  1693. 
He  married,  in  1667,  Phebe  Wood.  Chil- 
dren: Phebe,  born  1669;  Mary,  born  1672; 
Epenetus,  born  1674;  Hannah,  born  1679; 
Elizabeth,  born  1682;  Jonas,  born  1684; 
Jeremiah,  born  1686;  Ruth,  born  1688; 
Sarah,  born  1692. 


(I)  Israel  Piatt,  a  descendant  of  Epe- 
netus Piatt,  was  born  in  1738,  baptized  in 
Huntington,  Long  Island,  March  30,  1740, 
and  died  of  yellow  fever  in  1796  in  New 
York  City.  In  the  early  part  of  the  Revo- 
lution he  moved  from  Huntington,  Long 
Island,  to  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
county,  New  York,  and  was  a  captain  of 
militia  during  the  Revolution.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  Elizabeth  Scudder,  of  Hun- 
tington ;  married  (second)  Abigail,  sur- 
name unknown.  Children:  Stephen,  of 
whom  further;  Edwin,  born  1764,  died 
1788;  Henry,  baptized  1764,  died  young; 
Sarah,  married  Dr.  Cyrenius  Crosby ; 
Zilla,  born  1773,  married  Egbert  Barton; 
Ruth,  born  1778,  married  Samuel  Rey- 
nolds; Betsey,  born  1781,  died  1848,  mar- 
ried   Ariovistus    Pardee ;    Harriet,    born 

1785,  married  Walter  Perlee  ;  Nancy,  born 

1786,  married  Rufus  Herrick. 

(II)  Stephen  Piatt,  son  of  Israel  and 
Elizabeth  (Scudder)  Piatt,  was  born  in 
Huntington,  Long  Island,  March  28,  1762. 
He  removed  to  Freehold,  Albany  (now 
Greene)  county,  New  York,  about  1788, 
and  there  was  drowned,  December  12, 
1800.  He  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  army  of 
the  Revolution  at  the  age  of  nineteen, 
later  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature  for  Albany  county 
from  1793  to  1795.  He  married  (first) 
Dorcas  Hopkins,  daughter  of  Roswell 
Hopkins ;  she  died  in  1790,  in  her  twenty- 
sixth  year.  He  married  (second)  Lydia 
Sutherland,  born  in  1766,  died  October  28, 
1837.  Children  by  first  wife :  Fanny,  mar- 
ried Charles  Griggs;  Abigail,  married 
John  House;  Dorcas,  married  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Robertson  ;  Sally,  died  181 1.  Children 
by  second  wife  :  Harriet,  married  Dr.  Bela 
Brewster ;  Isaac  L.,  of  whom  further ; 
Jacob  S.,  twin  of  Isaac  L.,  born  April  5, 
1793.  married  Catherine  Waldron ;  he 
purchased  property  in  New  York  City 
and  cut  the  street  through  which  bears 


74 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


his  name,  Piatt  street,  in  1834;  Eliza, 
married  Gerard  Van  Schaick;  Aramenta, 
second  wife  of  Gerard  Van  Schaick. 

(III)  Isaac  L.  Piatt,  son  of  Stephen 
and  Lydia  (Sutherland)  Piatt,  was  born 
April  5,  1793,  and  died  in  Plainfield,  New 
Jersey,  October  22,  1875.  He  was  a  man- 
ufacturer and  importer  of  mirrors,  and  a 
resident  of  New  York  City  throughout 
his  life,  being  intimately  connected  with 
several  important  enterprises,  including 
the  Pennsylvania  Coal  Company  and  the 
Chemical  National  Bank,  and  a  director  of 
the  latter  organization.  He  was  married, 
May  6,  1816,  to  Marion  Erskine  Ruthven, 
born  January  1,  1796,  died  November  2, 
1854,  daughter  of  John  Ruthven,  born 
1753,  and  had  children :  John  R. ;  Mary 
Jane  R.,  married  John  P.  Adriance ;  Sam- 
uel R. ;  Lydia ;  Isaac  Stephen,  of  whom 
further. 

(IV)  Isaac  Stephen  Piatt,  son  of  Isaac 
L.  and  Marion  Erskine  (Ruthven)  Piatt, 
was  born  in  New  York  City,  January  5, 
1834,  and  died  there  November  15,  1904. 
He  was  educated  in  De  Forrest's  School 
in  New  York  City,  early  in  life  became 
employed  in  a  mercantile  house,  and  later 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Adriance, 
Piatt  &  Company,  manufacturers  of  har- 
vesting machinery.  With  this  organiza- 
tion he  was  prominently  identified 
throughout  his  life,  serving  for  many 
years  as  president.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce. 
He  was  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's  Soci- 
ety and  the  Century  Club.  He  married, 
October  16,  1866,  Mary  Jane  Redfield, 
daughter  of  James  Starr  Redfield  (see 
Redfield  line).  Children:  1.  Wallace 
Redfield,  born  December  20,  1867,  died 
April  29,  1887.  2.  Marion  Erskine,  born 
August  20,  1869;  married  Dr.  Charles  B. 
Keeler  (see  Keeler  line).  3.  Charles  How- 
ard, born  October  10,  1872,  died  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1921 ;  married  Ida  Maud  South- 


ack,  daughter  of  George  Southack,  of  New 
York  City ;  they  have  one  daughter,  Mar- 
ion Erskine.  4.  Jane  Wallace,  born  De- 
cember 4,  1874;  married  Howard  Stout 
Neilson  (q.  v.). 

(The  Redfield  Line). 

Thus  far  the  antecedents  of  the  Red- 
field  family  of  America  have  not  been 
traced  in  England.  This  name,  like  most 
other  old  names,  has  undergone  a  change 
in  spelling,  its  present  form  having  for 
some  reason  not  discovered  been  adopted 
by  the  second  generation  in  this  country. 
The  immigrant  ancestor  of  the  family  was 
William  Redfin,  and  that  form  of  the 
name  was  spelled  in  various  ways  in  the 
early  records  as  Redfen,  Redfyn  and  Red- 
fyne. 

(I)  The  first  record  of  William  Redfin 
shows  him  as  an  occupant  of  a  house  and 
four  acres  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Charles  river,  about  six  miles  from  Bos- 
ton, near  the  northwest  corner  of  what  is 
now  the  town  of  Brighton.  This  was  in 
1639,  and  he  may  have  located  there  at 
an  earlier  date.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  upon  that  side  of  the  river,  and 
was  no  doubt  of  English  origin.  He  sold 
the  place  in  September,  1646.  He  prob- 
ably joined  the  ranks  of  those  who  re- 
moved about  that  time  to  what  is  now 
the  town  of  Ledyard,  Connecticut.  The 
first  positive  evidence  we  have  of  his 
presence  there  is  in  1653,  when  he  built 
a  house  on  Brewster's  Neck,  on  land  con- 
veyed to  him  by  Jonathan  Brewster,  May 
29,  1654.  He  died  about  April  or  May, 
1662,  leaving  a  widow  Rebecca  and  four 
children,  three  of  whom  were  daughters. 
The  last  record  we  have  of  his  widow 
Rebecca  is  in  1667.  There  is  evidence 
to  indicate  that  he  followed  the  trade 
of  stone-mason  as  opportunity  offered. 
During  the  residence  of  the  family  in  New 
London    the    spelling    of    the    name,    as 


75 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


shown  in  various  documents  on  record, 
was  gradually  changed  to  its  present 
form. 

(II)  James  Redfield,  son  of  William 
and  Rebecca  Redfin,  was  born  about  1646. 
On  April  1,  1662,  he  bound  himself  for 
five  years  to  Hugh  Roberts,  of  New  Lon- 
don, to  learn  the  trade  of  tanner.  In  May, 
1669,  he  was  married  in  New  Haven  to 
Elizabeth  How,  born  in  1645,  daughter  of 
Jeremy  How,  of  New  Haven.  Jeremy 
How  was  a  son  of  Edward  How,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
who  was  admitted  freeman  there  in  1636; 
was  several  times  chosen  representative ; 
was  a  member  of  the  Essex  Court  in  1637 ; 
attended  the  court  which  was  convened 
in  Boston  in  March,  1639,  and  in  April 
dropped  dead  while  on  his  way  home. 
The  New  Haven  records  show  that  a 
daughter  Elizabeth  was  born  to  James 
Redfield  in  1670,  but  he  must  have  left 
New  Haven  soon  after,  for  in  1671  his 
name  appears  as  one  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Tisbury,  Martha's  Vineyard.  In  1676  he 
was  living  with  his  family  in  Saybrook, 
Connecticut,  plying  the  trade  of  weaver, 
and  he  was  then  recommended  to  the 
Council  of  Hartford  as  a  fit  person  to 
reside  in  and  care  for  the  newly  repaired 
fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  river. 
The  appointment  was  probably  made,  for 
in  1683  and  1686  the  town  made  him  small 
grants  of  land  contiguous  to  the  fort. 
Here  probably  was  born  to  him  his  son 
Theophilus,  in  1682,  whose  mother  soon 
after  died,  and  before  1693  James  Red- 
field  had  removed  to  Fairfield,  Connecti- 
cut, married  again,  and  before  1723  died. 
The  roving  character  of  this  ancestor  is 
rather  remarkable.  Tanner,  seaman  and 
weaver  seem  to  have  been  his  successive 
occupations.  Born  in  Newtown,  Massa- 
chusetts, apprenticed  in  New  London, 
married  in  New  Haven,  resident  for  a 
time  in  Martha's  Vineyard,  then  in  Say- 


brook,  and  finally  established  in  Fairfield, 
where  he  died. 

(Ill)  Theophilus  Redfield,  son  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (How)  Redfield, 
was  born  in  1682,  probably  in  Saybrook, 
Connecticut,  and  died  February  14,  1759. 
He  was  a  joiner  by  trade,  and  settled  in 
Killingworth,  Connecticut,  soon  after  be- 
coming of  age.  In  March,  1704-05,  he 
purchased  a  small  piece  of  ground  in  that 
part  of  Killingworth  which  was  afterward 
set  off  as  Clinton.  On  December  24,  1706, 
he  married  Priscilla  Greenel  (or  Grin- 
nell),  the  seventeen  year  old  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Lydia  (Pabodie)  Greenel,  who 
three  years  before  had  settled  in  that  part 
of  Saybrook  now  known  as  Westbrook. 
Priscilla  Greenel's  mother,  Lydia  (Pa- 
bodie) Greenel,  was  born  (according  to 
"The  Paybody  Family"  by  B.  Frank 
Pabodie),  April  3,  1667,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Pabodie,  of  Duxbury,  Massachu- 
setts, and  Little  Compton,  Rhode  Island. 
William  Pabodie  was  born  in  England, 
1620,  and  died  December  13,  1707.  He 
married,  December  26,  1644,  Elizabeth 
Alden,  born  1624-25,  "the  first  white 
woman  born  in  New  England,"  that  being 
stated  on  her  headstone  at  Little  Comp- 
ton, Rhode  Island;  she  died  May  31, 
1717,  daughter  of  John  and  Priscilla  (Mul- 
lins)  Alden,  the  story  of  whose  marriage 
is  immortalized  in  Longfellow's  "Court- 
ship of  Miles  Standish."  William  Pabo- 
die (or  Paybody)  settled  in  Plymouth 
with  his  father ;  afterward  removed  to 
Duxbury,  where  he  held  many  offices  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  He  owned  much 
land  there.  He  was  one  of  those  to  whom 
Bridgewater  was  set  off  in  1645  '<  was  one 
of  the  first  proprietors  of  Freetown  in 
1659;  was  one  of  the  original  purchasers 
of  Little  Compton  in  1675,  and  removed 
there  with  his  family  about  1684.  His 
father,  John  Paybody,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land   about    1590,    died    in    Bridgewater 


76 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


about  1667 ;  had  a  wife  named  Isabel.  He 
and  his  son  William  are  named  among 
the  original  proprietors  of  Plymouth. 
Daniel  Grinnell,  father  of  Daniel  Grinnell, 
mentioned  above,  was  born  in  1636,  .in 
Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island,  and  died  at 
Little  Compton  in  1703.  He  married 
Mary  Wodell,  born  November,  1640, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Wodell. 
William  Wodell  was  in  Boston  at  an  early 
date,  and  died  in  Tiverton,  Rhode  Island, 
in  1693.  In  1643,  with  others,  he  was 
banished  from  Massachusetts  for  "heresy 
and  sedition"  and  returned  to  Ports- 
mouth, Rhode  Island,  where  they  had 
previously  been  living.  In  1643  he  was 
granted  land  in  Portsmouth;  was  com- 
missioner, 1655-63 ;  deputy,  1664-65-66-67- 
69-70-72-73-74-75-80-8 1  -82-83-84-86.  Dur- 
ing these  years  he  served  on  many 
important  committees.  In  1684  he  was 
chosen  assistant,  but  positively  declined 
to  serve.  Daniel  Grinnell  was  a  malster; 
was  made  freeman  in  Portsmouth  in  1657. 
His  name  appears  in  several  real  estate 
transactions  in  that  town  and  in  Little 
Compton.  He  served  on  the  grand  jury 
and  as  constable.  His  father,  Matthew 
Grinnell,  died  prior  to  1643;  was  a  resi~ 
dent  of  Newport,  Rhode  Island.  His  wife 
Rose  died  in  1673.  In  1713  James  Red- 
field  visited  his  son,  Theophilus,  in  Kil- 
lingworth,  and  made  over  to  him  the  title 
tract  of  land  in  Saybrook.  Soon  after, 
Theophilus  bought  a  tract  of  land  on 
Chestnut  Hill,  in  the  northern  portion 
of  Killingworth,  and  there  he  resided  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  life.  Several  of 
his  descendants  still  occupy  a  portion  of 
that  site.  He  served  on  many  important 
town  committees,  and  was  known  as 
"Sergeant  Redfield."  His  widow  Priscilla 
survived  him  eleven  years,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 12,  1770,  aged  eighty-one  years.  He 
left  nine  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of 
whom  lived  to  rear  families. 


(IV)  William  (2)  Redfield,  son  of  The- 
ophilus and  Priscilla  (Greenel  or  Grin- 
nell) Redfield,  was  born  in  Killingworth, 
Connecticut,  December  5,  1727.  He  re- 
sided for  a  brief  time  in  Guilford,  and 
there  is  evidence  that  he  then  owned  and 
commanded  a  small  coasting  vessel,  a  fact 
which  gave  him  the  title  of  captain  in 
later  years.  Retiring  from  that  occupa- 
tion he  became  a  resident  of  Middletown, 
Connecticut.  His  name  is  found  in  a  list 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Middletown  who 
in  1775  were  adjudged  liable  to  special 
military  service  in  case  of  sudden  alarm. 
In  August,  1776,  he  was  appointed  second 
sergeant  of  the  First  Company  in  one  of 
the  regiments  raised  by  Connecticut  for 
the  Continental  service,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  he  was  appointed  issuing  com- 
missary in  the  same  service.  He  is  said  to 
have  kept  an  inn  in  Middletown  for  a 
short  period,  and  at  one  time  had  charge 
of  the  county  jail.  He  was  a  prominent 
Free  Mason.  He  died  in  July,  1813,  in  the 
eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Jarcie  Starr,  born  in  Middle- 
town,  February  4,  1734,  died  about  1800. 

(V)  Peleg  Redfield,  son  of  William  (2) 
and  Elizabeth  Jarcie  (Starr)  Redfield,  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  Janu- 
ary 22,  1762.  About  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  left  his  home,  made  his  way  to  New 
London,  where  he  joined  a  privateer 
which  soon  after,  meeting  a  vessel  sup- 
posed to  be  a  British  merchantman,  boldly 
gave  it  battle.  A  nearer  approach  showed 
the  supposed  trading  vessel  to  be  a  frigate 
in  disguise.  The  unfortunate  privateer 
had  caught  a  tartar,  and  its  crew  were 
taken  to  New  York  as  prisoners.  Peleg's 
youth  probably  saved  him  from  the  hor- 
rors of  a  prison  ship.  A  British  officer 
noticed  him  and  took  a  fancy  to  employ 
him  as  a  servant.  One  day  this  officer 
with  some  comrades  made  an  excursion  to 
Long  Island  to  dine  with  a  Tory  family. 


77 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


While  the  officers  were  feasting  within, 
the  lad  was  permitted  to  amuse  himself 
without,  and  naturally  had  resource  to  the 
fruit  trees  for  solace.  While  in  the  top 
of  one  of  these  he  fell  into  sleep,  either 
real  or  feigned,  and  when  the  hour  of  de- 
parture had  arrived  he  was  not  to  be 
found.  His  ears  were  deaf  to  the  repeated 
calls,  and  search  was  in  vain.  Concluding 
that  he  had  escaped,  the  officer  departed 
without  him.  Then,  descending,  he  man- 
aged in  some  way  to  reach  the  eastern 
part  of  the  island  and  eventually  found  a 
boat  to  land  him  in  Connecticut.  He 
continued  to  follow  the  sea  for  most  of 
his  life,  and  besides  his  frequent  long 
absences  from  home,  and  the  fact  that  he 
died  when  his  oldest  son  was  but  thirteen 
years  of  age,  little  is  known  of  the  details 
of  his  life.  He  married,  in  1788,  Elizabeth 
or  Betsey  Pratt,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Mary  (Latham)  Pratt,  of  Middle- 
town,  a  descendant  of  John  Pratt,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford,  and  of 
Cary  (Latham)  Pratt,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  New  London.  Peleg  Redfield 
died  September  10,  1802,  leaving  his 
widow  and  five  children.  She  was  a 
woman  of  strong  character  and  earnest 
faith,  and  died  February  2,  1825.  Chil- 
dren: William,  born  March  26,  1789; 
Mary,  born  1791,  died  1792;  Samuel,  born 
February  14,  1793;  Peleg,  born  April  5, 
1795;  Mary  Latham,  born  November  22, 
1797;  James  Starr,  of  whom  further. 

(VI)  James  Starr  Redfield,  son  of 
Peleg  and  Elizabeth  (Pratt)  Redfield, 
was  born  December  8,  1799.  He  removed 
to  Ohio  with  his  family  in  1805,  and  set- 
tled in  Medina  county.  He  married  (first) 
Mary  Perkins,  daughter  of  Josiah  and 
Rachel  Perkins;  (second)  Mrs.  Mary 
(Mason)  Rowe.  Children,  by  his  first 
wife:  Rachel  Harris,  born  March  11,  1832; 
William,  born  1833,  died  1837;  James 
Perkins,    born    March    28,    1835;   Joseph 


Harris,  born  January  18,  1837;  William 
Henry,  born  1839,  deceased;  Russel  B., 
born  June  21,  1841  ;  Mary  Jane,  born  April 
20,  1843,  died  November  2,  1904,  lived  in 
New  York  with  her  aunt,  Mrs.  William 
C.  Redfield ;  married,  October  16,  1866, 
Isaac  Stephen  Piatt  (see  Piatt  line). 


KEELER,  Charles  Bradley, 

Physician,  Specialist. 

The  record  of  Dr.  Keeler's  paternal  line 
begins  with  Ralph  Keeler,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  who  was 
born  in  England  about  1613.  The  first 
mention  of  him  in  America  is  as  a  lot 
owner  in  1640  in  Hartford,  whence  he 
moved  to  Norwalk  about  1651.  The  name 
of  his  first  wife  is  unknown,  but  he  mar- 
ried (second),  after  1651,  Sarah  Whipley, 
widow  of  Henry  Whipley,  of  Norwalk. 
Children:  Ralph,  Jr.,  born  about  1646; 
John,  of  whom  further;  Rebecca,  born 
February  9,  1654,  married  James  Pickett ; 
Samuel,  born  1656.  married  Sarah  St. 
John ;  Elizabeth,  born  1660,  married  Tho- 
mas Morehouse ;  probably  Jonah 

(II)  John  Keeler,  son  of  Ralph  and 
Sarah  (Whipley)  Keeler,  was  born  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  in  1652,  and  lived 
there.  His  will  was  dated  February  27, 
1718-19.  He  married,  June  18,  1679,  Hit- 
tabel  Rockwell,  daughter  of  John  Rock- 
well, of  Stamford,  a  first  settler,  who 
came  from  Dorchester,  England,  and 
whose  wife  was  Elizabeth  (Weed)  Rock- 
well. Children  of  John  and  Hittabel 
,(Rockwell)  Keeler:  John,  Jr.,  born  1682, 
married  Rhoda  Hoyt ;  David,  married 
Mary  St.  John;  Daniel,  of  whom  further; 
Elizabeth,  born  1688,  married  a  Hoyt ; 
Mehittabel,  married  (first)  Joseph  Black- 
ley,  (second)  Caleb  Hoyt;  Hannah,  mar- 
ried a  Gregory ;  Sarah,  married  a  Hoyt, 
sometimes  spelled  Hayt;  Jemima;  Ruth, 
married,  in  1727,  Matthew  Benedict. 


78 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(III)  Daniel  Keeler,  son  of  John  and 
Hittabel  (Rockwell)  Keeler,  was  born  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut.  His  will  was  dated 
November  4,  1764.  He  married  Hannah 
Whitney,  born  in  Norwalk,  November  5, 
1707,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Finch)  Whitney,  granddaughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Whitney,  great- 
granddaughter  of  Henry  Whitney,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America.  The 
Whitney  ancestry  is  traced  to  Exrog, 
Knight  of  King  Arthur's  Round  Table, 
and  the  family  bore  arms :  Azure,  a  cross 
chequy  or  and  sable.  Children  of  Daniel 
and  Hannah  (Whitney)  Keeler:  Daniel, 
of  whom  further ;  Hannah,  born  in  Nor- 
walk, married,  December  29,  1748,  Ben- 
jamin Bolt;  Dorothy,  married,  in  1750, 
Abram  Hoyt;  Isaiah,  married  Melicent 
Olmstead ;  Lydia,  baptized  in  1737;  Jere- 
miah, born  about  1740,  married  Elizabeth 
Weed;  Mary,  baptized  1742,  married  Jo- 
seph Riggs ;  Dinah,  baptized  1744,  mar- 
ried James  Canfield ;  John  and  Joseph 
(twins),  born  1746,  John  married  Phebe 
Hoyt;  Elizabeth,  baptized  1748,  married 
Samuel  North. 

(IV)  Daniel  (2)  Keeler,  son  of  Daniel 
(1)  and  Hannah  (Whitney)  Keeler,  was 
born  about  1730,  and  died  December  24, 
1803.  He  and  his  wife  Mary  joined  the 
church  at  New  Canaan,  August  14,  1753. 
Children :  Hannah,  baptized  in  New  Can- 
aan, March  3,  1754,  married  Jachin  Hoyt; 
Isaac,  of  whom  further ;  David,  baptized 
July  19,  1761  ;  Rhuama,  baptized  Novem- 
ber 13,  1763,  died  1786. 

(V)  Captain  Isaac  Keeler,  son  of  Dan- 
iel (2)  and  Mary  Keeler,  was  born  May 
2,  1756,  in  Canaan  parish,  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, and  died  January  23,  1837,  when 
in  his  eighty-first  year.  When  the  Rev- 
olutionary War  broke  out  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Fourth  Company,  Sev- 
enth Regiment,  under  Captain  Joseph 
Hoit,   Colonel   Charles   Webb   command- 


ing, served  at  Winter  Hill  under  General 
Sullivan,  was  at  Valley  Forge  during  the 
memorable  winter  of  1777-78,  and  subse- 
quently took  part  in  the  battle  of  Mon- 
mouth. On  December  7,  1775,  the  regi- 
ment was  reorganized  under  Colonel 
Webb  for  service  in  1776,  and  was  adopted 
as  a  Continental  organization,  and  Isaac 
Keeler  was  accredited  to  Norwalk.  His 
military  record  is  as  follows :  Commis- 
sioned ensign  in  Second  Regiment  (for- 
mation of  1777-80),  January  1,  1777;  sec- 
ond lieutenant,  February  4,  1778;  first 
lieutenant,  August  1,  1779;  quartermaster 
in  1781.  He  was  a  government  pensioner 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati.  After  the  war  closed  he  com- 
menced business  life  for  himself,  later  re- 
moving to  New  York  City,  where  he  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  city  marshal, 
and  he  also  served  at  one  time  as  police 
justice  in  that  city.  He  was  afterward 
given  a  position  in  the  custom  house, 
which  he  retained  until  his  death.  During 
the  War  of  181 2,  when  New  York  City 
was  in  danger  of  being  attacked  by  the 
British,  he  volunteered  for  three  months' 
service  in  the  Veteran  Corps  of  Revolu- 
tionary soldiers  to  guard  the  arsenal,  and 
was  made  an  officer  in  the  corps.  He 
bravely  attempted  to  discharge  the  duties 
which  fell  to  his  lot  with  his  old-time 
fidelity,  but  the  labors  and  exposures  of 
camp  life  proved  too  much  for  his  years 
and  enfeebled  constitution,  and  he  con- 
tracted a  severe  cold  which  developed  in- 
to consumption,  though  he  lived  for  many 
years  afterward.  He  married  (first), 
September  24,  1779,  Sarah  St.  John,  born 
May  11,  1755,  died  September  21,  1793. 
He  married  (second),  December  15,  1793, 
Catherine  Tuttle,  born  September  9,  1774. 
died  July  28,  1854.  Children  by  first  mar- 
riage:  Esther,  born  April  22,  1781 ;  Na- 
omi, born  September  24,  1783,  married 
Stephen  Ayres ;  Isaac,  born  July  19,  1786, 


79 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


died  December  25,  1786;  Isaac,  born 
May  25,  1789,  married  Hannah  Olmsted ; 
Sally,  born  June  16,  1791,  married  Peter 
Crissy.  Children  by  second  marriage : 
Bradley,  of  whom  further:  Edward  E., 
born  November  28,  1796. 

(VI)  Bradley  Keeler,  son  of  Captain 
Isaac  and  Catherine  (Tuttle)  Keeler,  was 
born'  September  26,  1794,  in  Canaan  par- 
ish, Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  died  July 
6,  1855.  He  was  a  carriage  manufacturer 
by  occupation,  carrying  on  a  business  in 
New  Canaan,  where  he  also  owned  what 
is  now  the  "Birdsall  House."  He  mar- 
ried Polly  Hoyt,  who  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  April  26,  1872.  Children : 
Stephen  Edwards,  Sylvester  Hoyt,  and 
Isaac  Eldridge,  of  whom  further. 

(VII)  Isaac  Eldridge  Keeler,  son  of 
Bradley  and  Polly  (Hoyt)  Keeler,  was 
born  September  8,  1826,  in  New  Canaan, 
Connecticut.  He  spent  his  earlier  life 
there,  receiving  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
carriage-maker  with  his  father,  and  fol- 
lowed the  same  successfully  for  a  num- 
ber of  years ;  he  made  the  celebrated 
coach  owned  by  "Tom  Thumb."  He  was 
the  organizer  of  the  Union  Coach  Com- 
pany, of  Bridgeport,  and  was  one  of  its 
officials  for  many  years.  In  1858  he  be- 
came associated  with  the  Wheeler  &  Wil- 
son Sewing  Machine  Company,  in  Bridge- 
port, Connecticut,  as  superintendent  of 
their  cabinet  department,  and  removed  to 
that  town,  becoming  one  of  its  prominent 
citizens.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Artil- 
lery Company  in  Bridgeport,  and  during 
the  Civil  War  was  on  home  duty.  He 
married,  February  14,  1852,  Jane  Todd 
Porter,  born  February  17,  1830,  daughter 
of  Abijah  and  Rhoda  Porter,  of  Bridge- 
port. Isaac  E.  Keeler  died  August  2, 
1885,  and  his  wife  survived  him  until  Jan- 
uary 25,  1895.  They  were  members  of 
St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  Bridgeport, 


of  which  Mr.  Keeler  was  warden  for 
many  years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican. Children:  1.  Emma,  born  March 
4,  1855;  married,  April  29,  1886,  Roger  H. 
Comstock,  of  Milford,  Connecticut;  she 
died  in  1908.  2.  George  Eldridge,  born 
September  30,  1861 ;  resides  in  Spring- 
dale,  Connecticut;  married,  September  17, 
1891,  Annie  May  Warner,  daughter  of 
Frank  Warner,  of  Wilton,  Connecticut. 
3.  Charles  Bradley,  of  whom  further.  4. 
Benjamin  Hoyt,  a  sketch  of  whom  fol- 
lows. 

(VIII)  Dr.  Charles  Bradley  Keeler,  son 
of  Isaac  Eldridge  and  Jane  Todd  (Por- 
ter) Keeler,  was  born  July  17,  1865,  in 
Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  and  there  at- 
tended the  public  schools.  His  studies 
were  interrupted  by  ill  health  and  he  went 
West  to  Kansas  in  search  of  a  favorable 
change  and  climate,  in  1885  entering 
Hahnemann  Medical  College,  of  Chicago. 
He  was  graduated  M.  D.  from  that  insti- 
tution in  1889,  having  worked  his  way 
throughout  his  entire  course,  and  in  April 
of  the  year  of  his  graduation  he  located 
in  New  Canaan,  Connecticut.  In  1914  Dr. 
Keeler  built  and  occupied  a  beautiful  res- 
idence of  Colonial  architecture  in  the  ad- 
joining town  of  Darien,  and  has  there 
continued  practice.  In  professional  activ- 
ity he  has  specialized  in  the  treatment  of 
diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat, 
is  associated  with  the  Ophthalmic  Hos- 
pital of  New  York  City,  and  holds  re- 
sponsible position  in  his  field.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Ophthalmological,  Otolog- 
ical,  and  Laryngological  societies,  the 
Fairfield  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Connecticut  State  Homoeopathic  Society, 
the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy, 
and  the  American  Medical  Association. 

While  a  resident  of  New  Canaan,  Dr. 
Keeler  served  as  health  officer  of  the  town 
and  borough  and  as  coroner's  examiner. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Ma- 


80 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


sonic  order  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  in  the  former  holding  mem- 
bership in  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  67,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  New  Canaan ; 
Washington  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
sons, of  Norwalk ;  Clinton  Commandery, 
No.  3,  Knights  Templar,  of  Norwalk,  and 
Pyramid  Temple,  No.  9,  Ancient  Arabic 
Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of 
Bridgeport.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chi- 
ron Club,  of  New  York  City,  whose  mem- 
bership is  limited  to  twenty,  the  Suburban 
Club,  of  Stamford,  and  the  Woodway 
Golf  Club.  Dr.  Keeler  has  long  been  an 
enthusiastic  yachtsman,  and  is  able  to 
handle  any  craft.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
Ullmark's  Nautical  Academy,  and  holds  a 
master's  license.  At  one  time  he  was 
commodore  of  the  Norwalk  Yacht  Club, 
and  he  is  now  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Yacht  Club,  the  Indian  Harbor  Yacht 
Club,  of  Greenwich,  and  the  Stamford 
Yacht  Club.  Dr.  Keeler  is  a  member  of 
the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution 
through  the  patriotic  services  of  his  great- 
grandfather, Captain  Isaac  Keeler. 

Dr.  Keeler  married  (first)  Gertrude  C. 
Chidley,  April  24,  1889 ;  she  died  May  22, 
1907.  He  married  (second)  Ida  Ashton, 
February  22,  1909;  she  died  May  10,  191 1. 
He  married  (third),  April  16,  191 2,  Marion 
Erskine  Piatt,  daughter  of  Isaac  Stephen 
and  Mary  Jane  (Redfield)  Piatt  (see 
Piatt  line).  Mrs.  Keeler  is  a  member  of 
the  Society  of  Mayflower  Descendants. 


was  born  December  3,  1867.  He  attended 
Bridgeport  public  schools  and  was  later  a 
student  in  a  private  school,  subsequently 
pursuing  professional  studies  in  the  Bal- 
timore Dental  College.  New  Canaan  has 
been  his  home  and  the  scene  of  his  prac- 
tice since  his  graduation,  and  he  holds 
foremost  position  in  his  calling.  His 
clientele  is  large  and  his  work  is  highly 
appreciated  in  the  community.  Dr.  Keeler 
is  a  member  of  Harmony  Lodge,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  New  Canaan, 
and  Wooster  Lodge,  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  of  New  Canaan,  of  which 
he  is  past  grand. 

Dr.  Keeler  married,  November  6,  1889, 
Elizabeth  Olmstead,  daughter  of  Lewis 
and  Hannah  E.  Olmstead,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Benjamin  Hoyt,  Jr.,  born  March 
16,  1891,  in  New  Canaan,  Connecticut;  a 
civil  engineer  of  Stamford,  Connecticut; 
he  married,  October  30,  191 5.  Jessie  Close, 
of  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  has  two 
children,  Jane  Howell,  born  April  19,  1918, 
and  Charles  Bradley,  2nd,  born  March  29, 
1920. 


KEELER,  Benjamin  Hoyt, 
Dentist. 

A  present  day  representative  of  a  fam- 
ily long  prominent  in  Connecticut,  Dr. 
Keeler  has  made  dentistry  his  profession, 
following  this  calling  in  the  district  where 
the  name  of  Keeler  has  long  been  familiar. 
Son  of  Isaac  Eldridge  and  Jane  Todd 
(Porter)    Keeler,   Benamin   Hoyt   Keeler 

Conn— 8— 6  8 1 


SKELDING,  Schuyler  Merritt, 

Active   Business  Man. 

The  five  years  during  which  Mr.  Skeld- 
ing  has  carried  on  business  in  his  native 
town  of  Stamford  have  sufficed  to  place 
him  high  on  the  list  of  representatives  of 
her  real  estate  interests.  He  is  promi- 
nent in  the  social  and  club  circles  of  his 
community,  and  was  among  those  who 
volunteered  for  service  during  the  World 
War. 

The  name  of  Skelding  appears  to  be  a 
variation  of  the  Danish  name  Scolding, 
Scalding,  derived  from  the  Danish  royal 
family,  the  "Skioldunger,"  signifying  de- 
scendants of  Skiold.  Skiold,  in  the  differ- 
ent forms  of  the  various  Scandinavian 
languages,  signifies  "a  shield." 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


The  Skeldings  are  an  old  family  of 
Stamford,  records  showing  that  they  have 
been  established  there  over  two  hundred 
years.  They  have  always  been  good  cit- 
izens, aiding  to  the  utmost  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  interests  most  vital  to  the 
progress  and  prosperity  of  the  town. 

(I)  Thomas  Skelding,  the  first  ances- 
tor of  record,  was  of  Stamford,  and  on 
June  II,  1701,  married  Mary  Austin. 

(II)  Thomas  (2)  Skelding,  son  of  Tho- 
mas (1)  and  Mary  (Austin)  Skelding, 
was  born  June  II,  1703.  On  September 
5,  1726,  he  married  Mary  Brown,  born 
October  2,  1705,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary   Brown.     Joseph   Brown,  a   son  of 

Francis    Brown,    married    Mary    . 

Francis  Brown,  born  in  England,  about 
1607,  came  to  this  country  in  1638  with 
the  New  Haven  Company,  led  by  The- 
ophilus  Eaton  and  John  Davenport,  lo- 
cating in  the  Province  of  Connecticut. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Stamford, 
being  a  settler  there  about  1656. 

(III)  James  Skelding,  son  of  Thomas 
(2)  and  Mary  (Brown)  Skelding,  was 
born  April  15,  1738.  He  married,  June  9, 
1763,  in  Salem,  New  York,  Mary  Hait. 
The  original  form  of  the  name  of  Hait 
was  the  German  von  Haight.  In  Eng- 
land it  was  changed  to  Hait,  Hoyte  and 
various  other  forms,  which  were  pre- 
served when  a  branch  was  transplanted 
to  the  American  colonies. 

(IV)  James  (2)  Skelding,  son  of  James 
(1)  and  Mary  (Hait)  Skelding,  was  born 
June  6,  1775.  He  married,  December  29, 
1800,  Hannah  Knapp,  a  native  of  Green- 
wich, who  died  November  20,  1822,  aged 
thirty-nine  years  and  seven  months. 

(V)  Henry  Knapp  Skelding,  son  of 
James  (2)  and  Hannah  (Knapp)  Skelding, 
was  born  November  30,  1801,  in  Green- 
wich. For  many  years  he  was  a  merchant 
in  New  York  City.  He  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic    fraternity.      On    retiring    from 


business  he  again  became  a  resident  of 
Stamford,  becoming  one  of  the  organizers 
and  the  first  president  of  the  Stamford 
Gas  Light  Company.  He  also  served 
three  years  as  warden  of  the  borough. 
Mr.  Skelding  married,  April  3,  1823,  Delia 
Maria  Lockwood,  daughter  of  Captain 
Augustus  Lockwood,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred August  31,  1871. 

(VI)  William  Frederick  Skelding,  son 
of  Henry  Knapp  and  Delia  Maria  (Lock- 
wood)  Skelding,  was  born  in  1833,  in 
Stamford.  He  there  married,  December 
12,  1863,  Amelia  Merritt,  daughter  of 
Matthew  Franklin  Merritt,  of  that  city. 
The  Merritt  genealogy  is  incorporated  in 
the  biography  of  the  Hon.  Schuyler  Mer- 
ritt, which  follows  in  the  work.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Skelding  engaged  in  the 
coal  business  in  Wilkes-Barre,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

(VII)  Franklin  Merritt  Skelding,  son 
of  William  Frederick  and  Amelia  (Mer- 
ritt) Skelding,  was  born  in  1865.  He  was 
educated  in  the  widely  known  private 
school  presided  over  by  Professor  King. 
In  1885  he  graduated  at  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, and  afterward  engaged  for  a  short 
time  in  newspaper  work.  He  married 
Louise  Darling  Lockwood,  daughter  of 
Henry  F.  Lockwood.  Mr.  Skelding  died 
in  early  manhood,  passing  away  Decem- 
ber 1,  1895.  The  following  tribute,  which 
appeared  in  a  local  paper,  is  peculiarly 
felicitous:  "There  was  that  about  his 
bright,  genial,  cheerful  disposition  which 
won  good-will  and  friendship  answering 
to  his  own,  and  he  was  endowed  with  pos- 
itive talents  worthy  of  admiration  and 
respect." 

(VIII)  Schuyler  Merritt  Skelding,  son 
of  Franklin  Merritt  and  Louise  Darling 
(Lockwood)  Skelding,  was  born  August 
27,  1889,  in  Stamford.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  Miss  Haff's  school, 
passing   thence   to  King's   school,   where 


8. 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


his  father  had  been  prepared  for  the  uni- 
versity. In  1907  he  graduated  from  King's 
school,  and  in  191 1  received  from  Brown 
University  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 
Immediately  thereafter  Mr.  Skelding  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Bankers'  Trust 
Company  of  New  York  City,  remaining 
two  years,  and  then  spent  another  two 
years  in  association  with  the  Yale  & 
Towne  Manufacturing  Company,  being 
employed  in  their  New  York  office.  All 
this  time,  however,  Mr.  Skelding  retained 
his  residence  in  Stamford,  and  in  1915  he 
identified  himself  with  a  real  estate  firm. 
In  1917  he  engaged  on  his  own  account 
in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business, 
and  has  already  acquired  a  profitable  cli- 
entele and  built  up  for  himself  a  sterling 
reputation.  He  is  secretary  and  director 
of  the  H.  S.  Morehouse  Hotel  Company, 
which  operates  the  Davenport,  and  he  is 
also  general  manager  and  director  of  the 
Apartments  Company.  He  is  treasurer 
of  the  Mercantile  Realty  Company.  Dur- 
ing the  World  War,  Mr.  Skelding's  busi- 
ness career  suffered  an  interruption  by 
reason  of  his  patriotic  response  to  the  call 
of  the  Federal  government.  He  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  the  437th  Engineer  De- 
tachment which  was  stationed  at  Wash- 
ington Barracks.  Later  the  value  of  his 
service  was  recognized  by  the  award  of  a 
commission  as  second  lieutenant. 

Mr.  Skelding's  fraternal  associations 
are  with  Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons ;  Rittenhouse  Chapter, 
Royal  Arch  Masons ;  Clinton  Command- 
ery,  Knights  Templar,  and  Pyramid  Tem- 
ple, Ancient  Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Delta  Phi  fraternity,  and  his  clubs  are 
the  Suburban,  Stamford  Yacht,  Wood- 
way  Country,  of  Stamford,  the  Algonquin, 
of  Bridgeport,  and  the  New  York  Ath- 
letic and  Brown  University  clubs,  of  New 
York. 


Throughout  the  changes  incident  to  his 
career  as  a  business  man,  Mr.  Skelding 
has  loyally  chosen  to  remain  a  resident 
of  the  city  with  the  history  of  which  his 
ancestors  were  identified  for  two  cen- 
turies. His  record  gives  assurance  that 
he  will  be  true  to  his  traditions  of  high- 
minded  public  service  and  so  bring  addi- 
tional honor  to  a  name  long  and  deserv- 
edly held  in  veneration. 


MERRITT,  Hon.  Schuyler, 

Manufacturer,  National  Legislator. 

Schuyler  Merritt  represents  the  Fourth 
Congressional  District  of  Connecticut. 
His  family  had  its  origin  in  England  and 
in  Somersetshire,  the  county  which  al- 
most more  than  any  other  is  invested  with 
the  indescribable  and  pervasive  charm  of 
immemorial  tradition.  As  "King  Ar- 
thur's country"  it  is  the  home  of  earliest 
romance,  romance  which  has  inspired  the 
noblest  work  of  one  of  England's  great- 
est laureates.  It  is  in  this  Old  World 
haunt  of  song  and  story  that  we  find  the 
first  known  ancestor  of  the  Merritts,  Ead- 
noth,  an  Anglo  thane,  whose  son,  Hard- 
ing de  Meriet,  was  the  earliest  to  bear  the 
family  name.  Members  of  this  race,  which 
was  seated  in  Somersetshire  prior  to  the 
Norman  Conquest,  are  now  numerous  in 
almost  every  county  of  England.  The 
name,  variously  spelled,  and  one  of  the 
most  familiar  and  honorable,  appears  in  a 
slightly  altered  form  as  Merriott,  the  des- 
ignation of  a  parish  in  Somersetshire  de- 
rived from  that  of  one  of  the  ancestral 
seats  of  the  family. 

Branches  of  the  race  were  early  trans- 
planted to  New  England  and  to  other  por- 
tions of  the  American  colonies,  and  for 
well-nigh  three  centuries  the  Merritts 
have  done  their  part  in  the  development 
and  upbuilding  of  the  interests  which 
have  helped  to  make  our  land  what  she 


8? 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


is  to-day.    They  are  numbered  among'  the 
armigerous  families  of  America. 

(I)  Thomas  Merritt,  the  earliest  Amer- 
ican ancestor  of  record,  was  born  in  May, 
1634,  and  in  1662  purchased  from  Thomas 
Standish  a  home  lot  in  Wethersfield, 
Connecticut.  In  1673  ne  settled  in  Rye, 
New  York,  and  in  1683  his  name  appears 
on  the  list  of  Rye's  proprietors.  On  July 
12,  1684,  he  was  made  constable.  He 
purchased  real  estate,  including  a  parcel 
of  land  called  Pine  Island,  adjoining  Mer- 
ritt's  meadows.  On  April  12,  1694,  he 
was  commissioner  to  renew  the  Indian 
purchase  at  White  Plains,  and  on  Febru- 
ary 28,  1694,  he  was  appointed  vestryman 
of  Rye,  and  served  in  1695  and  1697.  On 
July  22,  1697,  he  served  on  a  committee 
to  select  a  minister,  and  on  September  25, 
1697,  was  on  a  committee  to  build  a  meet- 
ing house.  From  1667  to  1698  he  was  a 
collector  of  the  minister's  salary.  He  was 
one  of  those  to  wrhom  was  granted,  Jan- 
uary 22,  1696,  the  patent  of  Rye.  On 
January  19,  1697,  Thomas  Merritt  and 
Deliverance  Brown  appeared  before  the 
General  Court  of  Connecticut  to  obtain  a 
charter  for  Rye.  In  1698  Thomas  Mer- 
ritt was  called  Senior.  In  October,  1699, 
he  was  deputy  to  the  General  Court,  and 
from  1697  to  1699  served  as  townsman  or 
trustee.  On  December  n,  1699,  he  be- 
came a  proprietor  of  Peningo  Neck,  and  in 
1705  he  was  supervisor.  On  November 
1,  1707.  he  served  on  a  committee  to  set- 
tle the  line  between  Greenwich  and  Rye. 
On  June  2,  1713-14-15-16,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Jury.  He  lived  nearly 
opposite  the  site  of  the  present  Park  In- 
stitute. Thomas  Merritt  married  (first), 
December  3,  1656,  Jane  Sherwood,  born 
in  1636,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Alice 
(Seabrook)  Sherwood,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  sons  and  daughters.  The 
mother  of  the  family  died  January  4,  1685. 
Thomas  Merritt  married  (second),  August 


13,  1688,  Abigail  Francis,  born  February 

14,  1660,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Joan 
Francis,  of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut.  A 
son  and  a  daughter  were  the  offspring  of 
this  marriage.  Thomas  Merritt  married 
(third),  in  1696,  Mary  (Ferris)  Lock- 
wood,  daughter  of  Jeffrey  Ferris,  and  wi- 
dow of  Jonathan  Lockwood.  This  first 
American  ancestor  of  the  Merritts  lived  to 
an  advanced  age,  passing  away  on  No- 
vember 10,  1725. 

(II)  Joseph  Merritt,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Jane  (Sherwood)  Merritt,  was  born 
June  6,  1662,  and  in  1683  was  a  propri- 
etor of  Rye.  He  had  assigned  to  him  two 
acres  on  Hog-Pen  Ridge,  in  1707,  which 
he  fenced  in,  and  in  1708  he  was  a  pro- 
prietor of  Wills  Purchase.  In  1717-18-22, 
he  served  on  the  Grand  Jury.  On  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1722,  he  was  an  ensign  in  the 
Westchester  County  Military  Company, 
and  on  May  n,  1727,  he  signed  a  peti- 
tion of  Presbyterians.  Joseph  Merritt 
married  Jane  .  The  death  of  Jo- 
seph Merritt  occurred  May  12,  1754.  His 
will,  which  was  made  March  27,  1752,  and 
proved  June  6,  1754,  is  signed  with  his 
mark. 

(III)  Nehemiah  Merritt,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Jane  Merritt,  was  born  May  7,  1715, 
and  in  December,  1758,  at  the  Oblong 
Meeting  at  Quaker  Hill,  Dutchess  county, 
New  York,  showed  a  certificate  of  re- 
moval from  the  Mamaroneck  Meeting. 
In  1760  he  was  on  a  committee  to  review 
the  sufferings  of  the  Friends  at  Oblong. 
On  July  25,  1761,  he  and  nine  others 
signed  a  petition  in  behalf  of  themselves 
and  fifteen  others  for  twenty-five  thou- 
sand acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson 
river  between  Fort  Edward  and  Lake 
George.  On  July  10,  1762.  a  meeting  of 
the  proprietors  of  Queensbury  was  held 
at  the  shop  of  Nehemiah  and  Daniel  Mer- 
ritt in  Beekman  Precinct.  Dutchess 
county,  New  York,  and  on  November  8, 


84 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1762,  at  a  second  meeting  held  at  the  same 
place,  partition  deeds  were  given  to  the 
thirty  proprietors,  including  Nehemiah 
and  his  sons,  Daniel  and  Ichabod.  Nehe- 
miah Merritt  had  not  been  included  in 
the  Queensbury  patent.    On  February  23, 

1763,  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  to  rent 
all  undivided  lands,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  very  active  in  real  estate  trans- 
actions. Nehemiah  Merritt  married  (first) , 
Dinah  Hopkins,  daughter  of  Ichabod  and 
Sarah  (Coles)  Hopkins;  married  (sec- 
ond), before  1761,  Mary  Dingy,  daughter 
of  Robert  Dingy.  Nehemiah  Merritt  died 
in  1794,  and  was  buried  in  Quaker  Hill 
Cemetery. 

(IV)  Daniel  Merritt,  son  of  Nehemiah 
and  Dinah  (Hopkins)  Merritt,  was  born 
July  23,  1738,  and  in  1763  became  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  Queensbury,  owning 
twenty-five  acres  there.  He  married 
(first),  December  23,  1761,  Hannah  Wing, 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Anstis  (Wood) 
Wing.  He  married  (second),  October  1, 
1765,  Sarah  Mudge,  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Sarah  (Hopkins)  Mudge.  Daniel 
Merritt  died  May  25,  1805,  and  was  bur- 
ied in  Quaker  Hill  Cemetery. 

(V)  Nehemiah  M.  Merritt,  son  of  Dan- 
iel and  Sarah  (Mudge)  Merritt,  was  born 
April  26,  1772,  in  Quaker  Hill,  and  in  1810 
was  a  dry  goods  merchant  on  Pearl  street, 
New  York.  He  lived  at  one  time  in 
Flushing,  Long  Island,  and  was  a  man  of 
prominence  in  the  community,  being  an 
acknowledged  minister  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  Mr.  Merritt  married  (first), 
February  28,  1793,  Phoebe  Thorne,  born 
April  13,  1773,  daughter  of  William  and 
Jemima  (Titus)  Thorne,  who  died  Janu- 
ary 30,  1823.  He  married  (second),  May 
11,  1827,  Sarah  Sutton,  daughter  of  Moses 
and  Rebecca  (Underhill)  Sutton.  Mr. 
Merritt  inherited  the  longevity  character- 
istic of  his   ancestors,   passing  away   on 


March  10,  1863,  having  nearly  completed 
his  ninety-first  year. 

(VI)  Matthew  Franklin  Merritt,  son 
of  Nehemiah  M.  and  Phoebe  (Thorne) 
Merritt,  was  born  March  2,  1815,  in  Flush- 
ing, New  York  State,  and  received  his 
education  in  public  schools  of  Dutchess 
county.  When  about  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  went  to  New  York  City  and  began 
his  active  employment  there.  He  was 
associated,  practically  all  his  life,  with  the 
iron  and  steel  business,  and  was  as  late 
as  1859  associated  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  George  W.  Quintard,  in  the  great 
Morgan  Iron  Works  of  New  York  City. 
While  still  a  young  man,  Mr.  Merritt 
manifested  an  unusual  enthusiasm  and  in- 
terest in  political  affairs,  not  as  a  seeker 
for  office,  but  rather  as  an  expression  of 
that  earnest  and  intelligent  patriotism 
which  distinguished  him  through  life.  He 
was  an  enthusiastic  "old-line  Whig"  in 
ante-war  days,  but  was  disposed  to  con- 
servative views  during  the  period  imme- 
diately preceding  the  Civil  War  when 
many  earnest  patriots,  North  and  South, 
were  still  hoping  that  some  happy  com- 
promise might  still  be  potent  to  scatter 
the  clouds  of  civil  strife  which  were  gath- 
ering on  the  horizon.  From  such  motives 
as  these  he  was  for  a  time  attracted  to  the 
support  of  the  presidential  ticket  of  Bell 
and  Everett,  but  as  the  issue  became 
clearer  and  it  was  evident  to  all  that  the 
vital  question  was  union  or  disunion,  no 
private  citizen  more  heartily  supported 
the  hands  of  the  government,  or  gave  pro- 
portionately more  liberal  and  persistent 
aid  to  all  measures  taken  for  its  defense. 

In  his  business  connection  with  the 
great  iron  and  marine  engine  works  Mr. 
Merritt  was  in  a  position  to  perform  serv- 
ices of  uncommon  value,  and  his  long  and 
intimate  personal  acquaintance  with  the 
Hon.    Gideon    Welles,    Secretary   of   the 


85 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Navy,  aided  in  bringing  him  into  promi- 
nence in  connection  with  naval  construc- 
tion. Largely  through  this  channel  he 
made  the  personal  acquaintance  of  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  himself  and  likewise  of 
many  of  the  leading  generals,  especially 
of  the  higher  officers  of  the  navy,  such  as 
Farragut,  Foote,  Dupont,  Worden  and 
others.  He  chanced  to  have  seen  all  that 
could  be  seen  from  Fortress  Monroe  of 
the  memorable  battle  between  the  "Mer- 
rimack" and  the  "Monitor,"  and  a  few 
days  after  had  the  privilege  of  meeting  at 
dinner  the  gallant  Worden  and  forming 
an  acquaintance  which  was  severed  only 
by  death.  One  of  the  later  monitors,  the 
"Cohoes,"  was  built  chiefly  under  Mr. 
Merritt's  personal  supervision.  In  order 
to  undertake  this  work  he  organized  the 
American  Iron  Works  which  continued  to 
build  ships  and  marine  engines,  Mr.  Mer- 
ritt  remaining  in  the  shipbuilding  business 
alone  until  1869,  when  he  retired. 

As  already  mentioned,  he  never  aspired 
to  political  office,  but  in  1859  was  elected 
State  Senator  from  his  district.  He  was 
often  called  upon  to  preside  at  public 
meetings,  a  position  for  which  his  tact, 
intelligence  and  habitual  courtesy  partic- 
ularly qualified  him.  These  qualities 
were  characteristic  of  him  even  in  the 
heat  of  political  contests,  and  as  a  result 
he  provoked  no  malice  and  made  no  en- 
emies even  among  his  bitter  opponents. 

About  1855  Mr.  Merritt  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Stamford,  and  during  the  war  his 
main  activity  as  a  citizen  was  in  promot- 
ing the  political  ascendancy  of  the  party 
upon  which  in  his  view  the  strength  and 
success  of  the  Union  cause  depended.  He 
was  influential  in  organizing  the  First 
National  Bank,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  organization  of  Woodlawn  Cem- 
etery, serving  for  many  years  as  its  vice- 
president.     When   the   Republican   party 


was  organized  in  Connecticut,  Mr.  Mer- 
ritt became  one  of  its  original  members. 
He  affiliated  with  Union  Lodge,  No.  5, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  For 
many  years  he  maintained,  nominally  at 
least,  his  birthright  membership  in  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Subsequently  he  be- 
came both  in  form  and  spirit  a  member  of 
St.  John's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of 
Stamford,  prominent  and  valued  in  that 
communion  during  all  the  latter  years  of 
his  life. 

Mr.  Merritt  married,  in  1840,  in  New 
York  City,  Maria  Shaw,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Clarissa  (Hoyt)  Shaw,  and  their 
children  were:  I.  Amelia,  born  Septem- 
ber 16,  1841  ;  married  William  F.  Skeld- 
ing  (a  biography  of  whom  precedes  this)  ; 
she  died  April  12,  1915.  2.  Julia,  born 
September  12,  1842,  died  December  15, 
1908.  3.  Adeline,  born  May  27,  1848,  died 
March  27,  1869.  4.  Schuyler,  mentioned 
below. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Merritt,  which  oc- 
curred May  10,  1896,  removed  from  the 
roster  of  Stamford  citizenship  a  name 
which  had  long  distinguished  it  and  which 
had  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
social  and  political  life  of  the  town  for 
nearly  half  a  century.  It  removed  from 
the  midst  of  a  circle  of  near  friends  and 
relatives  one  who  was  looked  up  to  and 
loved  by  all,  from  the  youngest  to  the  eld- 
est. Even  to  much  wider  circles  of  the 
community  his  departure  brought  a  sense 
of  personal  loss,  more  especially  to  the 
older  citizens  who  were  contemporaries 
of  Mr.  Merritt  in  the  more  active  and 
conspicuous  years  of  his  life,  and  who 
knew,  from  personal  recollection,  what  a 
large  and  honored  place  he  filled  here  dur- 
ing one  of  the  most  memorable  periods  of 
our  national  history. 

(VII)  Schuyler  Merritt.  son  of  Mat- 
thew Franklin  and  Maria  (Shaw)  Merritt, 


86 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


was  born  December  16,  1853,  in  New  York 
City.  He  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Stamford,  Connecticut.  In 
1873  he  graduated  at  Yale  University  with 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  doing  post- 
graduate work  for  a  year  thereafter.  He 
then  entered  Columbia  Law  School,  re- 
ceiving in  1876  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Laws.  The  same  year  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  New  York  City,  and  after 
spending  a  year  in  a  law  office  there  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Yale  &  Towne 
Manufacturing  Company  as  an  office  as- 
sistant. This  was  in  1877,  and  in  1878 
he  was  elected  secretary  of  the  company 
and  became  a  member  of  its  board  of 
directors.  For  several  years  he  was  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  commercial  end  of 
the  business,  and  from  1898  to  1902  filled 
the  office  of  treasurer.  For  some  years 
Mr.  Merritt  has  been  senior  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  company.  With  his  thorough 
legal  equipment  he  has  always  had  charge 
of  those  affairs  of  the  organization  which 
called  for  the  services  of  a  member  of  the 
bar,  and  has  also  protected  its  patent  in- 
terests, giving  special  attention  during 
recent  years  to  the  bank  lock  department. 
In  1905  Mr.  Merritt  was  elected  president 
of  the  Stamford  National  Bank,  and  when 
that  bank  and  the  First  National  Bank 
were  consolidated  in  July,  1919,  under 
the  name  of  the  First-Stamford  National 
Bank,  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  new 
organization.  He  is  also  a  director  of 
the  Stamford  Trust  Company  and  the 
Virginia  Iron,  Coal  and  Coke  Company. 

To  the  support  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  Mr.  Merritt  has  always 
given  his  political  allegiance,  and  for  very 
many  years  he  has  been  active  in  public 
affairs,  advancing  step  by  step  to  that 
position  of  leadership  which  he  has  so 
long  held.  In  1884  he  became  a  member 
of  the  School  Committee  of  Stamford,  and 


for  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  continued  to 
serve,  most  of  the  time  as  chairman  of  the 
board.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in  de- 
veloping the  high  school  to  its  present 
complete  and  well  equipped  condition  and 
in  elevating  it  to  its  very  high  standing  of 
to-day.  For  his  part  in  helping  to  raise 
the  standard  of  the  graded  schools  the 
community  is  much  indebted  to  him.  In 
1910  he  was  appointed  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Education  and  served  un- 
til he  was  elected  to  Congress  in  191 7. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  which  met  in  Hartford  in 
1904,  and  he  also  served  for  a  number  of 
years  on  the  Board  of  Appropriation  and 
Apportionment  of  Stamford.  At  a  spec- 
ial election  held  in  1917  he  was  chosen  to 
represent  the  Fourth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict in  the  United  States  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, and  was  reelected  in  1918 
and  1920.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Interstate  and  Foreign  Com- 
merce. 

As  a  man  of  keen  perception,  sound 
judgment,  wise  counsel  and  unquestioned 
integrity,  Mr.  Merritt  has  made  a  notably 
successful  record  in  the  business  world. 
The  justice  and  fair-mindedness  which 
have  always  characterized  his  relations 
with  his  employes  have  constituted  no 
small  factor  in  the  prosperity  of  his  com- 
mercial enterprises.  He  has  taken  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  the  Associated  Charities. 
The  patriotism  characteristic  of  his  race 
has  marked  Mr.  Merritt's  entire  career 
and  was  called  forth  in  all  its  strength  by 
the  late  war.  He  was  identified  with  a 
number  of  its  activities,  the  most  con- 
spicuous of  his  services  being  his  chair- 
manship of  Stamford's  Liberty  Loan 
Committee.  The  versatility  of  his  tal- 
ents has  enabled  Mr.  Merritt  to  achieve 
success  in  the  law,  in  commerce  and  in  the 
arena  of  politics. 


87 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


WHEELER,  Elonzo  Seth, 

Manufacturer. 

There  are  not  many  families  who  have 
sustained  so  high  a  character  through  so 
great  a  term  of  years  as  the  Wheelers  of 
Fairfield  county,  Connecticut.  For  over 
a  century  they  have  been  resident  in  Nau- 
gatuck  and  Saugatuck,  coming  to  the 
latter  place  in  i860.  Since  1837,  in  which 
year  Elonzo  Seth  Wheeler  started  in  busi- 
ness, this  family  has  been  prominent  in 
manufacturing  circles.  The  family  is 
among  the  oldest  settled  in  Connecticut, 
and  the  surname  is  one  of  the  most  an- 
cient in  England.  The  first  appearance  of 
the  name  is  in  the  eighth  century;  there 
was  a  Saxon  chief  who  bore  the  name, 
and  it  is  later  found  in  the  Domesday 
Book,  at  the  time  of  William  the  Con- 
queror. The  Hundred  Rolls  (1273)  give 
record  of  the  name  of  Hugh  le  Welere, 
and  in  the  Close  Rolls  (1348)  we  find 
Richard  Whelere.  The  derivation  of  the 
name  is  from  the  two  Anglo-Saxon  words, 
wel,  or  voxel,  meaning  prosperous,  and  hari, 
or  here,  meaning  a  warrior,  so  that  the 
name  signifies  lucky  warrior.  The  first 
known  member  of  the  family  herein  de- 
scribed in  direct  line  is  Agur  Wheeler. 

(I)  Agur  Wheeler  was  born  Decem- 
ber 20,  1754,  and  died  at  South  Britain, 
Connecticut.  He  enlisted,  August  15, 
1776,  in  Colonel  Benjamin  Hinman's 
company,  from  which  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  illness.  On  June  28,  1776, 
he  married  Anna  Tuttle,  of  South  Britain, 
and  she  was  born  May  24,  1759,  and  died 
December  11,  1802. 

(II)  Samuel  Wheeler,  son  of  Agur  and 
Anna  (Tuttle)  Wheeler,  was  born  at  South 
Britain,  Connecticut,  May  18,  1786,  and 
died  November  17,  1863.  He  married 
Oria  Hinman,  born  January  12,  1788,  died 
August  5,  1858,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Betty  (Hinman)  Hinman,  and  a  de- 


scendant of  Titus  Hinman,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Woodbury,  Connecticut.  Sam- 
uel Wheeler  followed  farming  throughout 
his  lifetime.  He  was  the  father  of  Elonzo 
Seth  Wheeler,  of  further  mention. 

(Ill)  Elonzo  Seth  Wheeler,  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Oria  (Hinman)  Wheeler,  was 
born  March  29,  1816,  in  South  Britain, 
Connecticut,  and  died  in  May,  1898,  at 
Saugatuck,  same  State.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  was  only  a 
young  man  when,  in  1837,  he  started  in 
the  manufacturing  business  on  his  own 
account.  He  was  one  of  the  first  manu- 
facturers of  buttons  in  Connecticut.  His 
start  in  business  was  a  small  venture,  but 
he  soon  met  with  success,  as,  possessed 
of  a  very  ingenious  mind,  he  patented 
machinery  that  enabled  him  to  decrease 
the  cost  of  manufacture  and  increase  the 
volume  of  output.  Later,  when  glass 
buttons  began  to  be  used,  Mr.  Wheeler 
took  up  that  line,  and  at  a  still  later  date 
he  was  one  of  the  pioneer  manufacturers 
of  cloth  covered  buttons  in  the  State.  In 
association  with  his  brother,  J.  E. 
Wheeler,  he  incorporated  the  business 
under  the  name  of  the  Saugatuck  Manu- 
facturing Company,  of  which  Mr.  Wheeler 
was  president  for  a  short  time.  He  main- 
tained an  office  in  New  York  City  and  had 
traveling  men  on  the  road.  Mr.  Wheeler 
was  an  upright  and  conscientious  citizen, 
and  interested  in  public  matters,  though 
by  no  means  a  politician.  He  was  of  a 
quiet  and  retiring  nature  and  devoted  his 
time  to  his  business  and  his  family. 

Mr.  Wheeler  married  Caroline  Smith, 
born  April  29,  1816,  in  Naugatuck,  died 
in  March,  191 1,  daughter  of  Anson  and 
Sarah  (Bouton)  Smith.  Mrs.  Wheeler 
was  a  descendant  of  George  Smith,  and  a 
granddaughter  of  Anthony  Smith,  who 
fought  in  the  Revolution.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wheeler  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren:   1.  Robinson  Hinman,  married  Sa- 


88 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


rah  Frances  Smith,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren: Edith  May  and  Charles  Edward; 
with  his  family  he  resides  in  Naugatuck. 
2.  Clarence  LeRoy,  married  Cora  Henry, 
and  their  children  are :  Elonzo  Henry ; 
LeRoy  Melville ;  Mary  Caroline,  wife  of 
Alfred  Sharp,  of  Buffalo;  Frederick  E., 
married  Frances  Thomas  ;  Elsie  ;  Willard 
Clark,  married  Alice  White.  This  family 
resides  in  Buffalo.  3.  Kate  Washington, 
deceased.  4.  Bertha  Caroline,  married 
John  Hazelton.  5.  Elonzo  Sterne.  The 
Wheeler  family  were  long  members  of 
Christ  Episcopal  Church  until  Trinity 
Church  was  built,  at  which  time  they  be- 
came identified  with  the  new  church. 


REDFIELD,  Tyler  Longstreet, 

Printer,    Publisher. 

To  this  should  be  added,  "Chairman  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Redfield- 
Kendrick-Odell  Company."  For  many 
years  a  publisher  and  printer  of  note  in 
New  York  City,  Mr.  Redfield  has  re- 
mained a  resident  of  Greenwich,  actively 
identified  with  the  interests  of  his  com- 
munity and  prominently  associated  with 
its  club  circles  and  its  social  life. 

The  family  name,  which  indicates  the 
ancient  English  origin  of  the  race,  has 
undergone,  with  the  lapse  of  centuries, 
numerous  changes,  being  spelled  succes- 
sively, Redfen,  Redfyn  and  Redfyne. 

(I)  William  Redfen,  founder  of  the 
American  branch  of  the  family,  was 
among  those  courageous  pioneers  who 
landed  on  our  shores  soon  after  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Pilgrims.  Coming  from  Eng- 
land he  was  in  Massachusetts  as  early  as 
1639,  and  possibly  earlier,  owning  and 
occupying  a  house  and  land  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river  Charles,  about  six  miles 
from  Boston,  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  what  is  now  the  town  of  Brighton.  In 
September,  1646,  he  sold  the  property  and 


probably  joined  those  who  removed  to 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Ledyard,  Con- 
necticut. The  first  evidence  we  have  of 
his  presence  there  is  in  1653,  when  he 
built  a  house  on  Brewster's  Neck,  on  land 
conveyed  to  him  by  Jonathan  Brewster, 
May  29,  1654.  He  died  about  April  or 
May,  1662.  The  Christian  name  of  his 
wife  was  Rebecca  and  the  last  evidence 
we  have  of  her  is  in  1667.  During  the 
residence  of  the  family  in  New  London, 
which  occurred  later,  the  spelling  of  the 
name,  as  shown  in  various  documents  on 
record,  was  changed  to  its  present  form. 

(II)  James  Redfield,  son  of  William 
and  Rebecca  Redfen,  was  born  about 
1646,  and  on  April  1,  1662,  bound  himself 
to  Hugh  Roberts,  of  New  London,  for 
five  years,  "to  learn  the  art  and  trade  of 
tanning,"  being  then  about  sixteen  years 
of  age.  He  married  (first)  in  May,  1669, 
in  New  Haven,  Elizabeth  How,  born  in 
1645,  daughter  of  Jeremy  How,  of  that 
place,  and  a  descendant  of  Edward  How, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Lynn,  Massa- 
chusetts, who  was  admitted  a  freeman 
there  in  1636;  was  several  times  chosen 
representative ;  was  a  member  of  the  Es- 
sex Court  in  1637;  attended  the  court 
which  was  convened  in  Boston  in  March, 
1639,  and  in  April  dropped  dead  while 
on  his  way  home.  In  1671  James  Redfield 
was  at  Tisbury,  Martha's  Vineyard,  and 
in  July,  1676,  he  was  back  in  Connecticut 
and  engaged  in  weaving.  At  one  time  he 
lived  in  Saybrook,  where  the  town 
granted  him  land.  About  1686  he  re- 
moved to  Fairfield,  where  he  married 
(second)  Deborah,  daughter  of  John 
Sturges,  or  Sturgis.  In  1683  he  had  been 
granted  land  at  Pipe  Stains  Point.  The 
date  of  his  death  is  not  known,  but  it  was 
probably  prior  to  1723. 

(III)  Theophilus  Redfield,  son  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (How)  Redfield, 
was  born  in  1682,  probably  in  Saybrook. 


89 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


He  was  a  joiner,  and  soon  after  coming 
of  age,  in  March,  1705,  purchased  a  small 
piece  of  ground  in  that  part  of  Killing- 
worth  afterward  set  off  as  Clinton.  He 
married,  December  24,  1706,  Priscilla 
Greenel  (or  Grinnell),  the  seventeen  year 
old  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lydia  (Pa- 
bodie)  Greenel  (or  Grinnell),  who  three 
years  before  had  settled  in  that  part  of 
Saybrook  now  known  as  Westbrook. 
Lydia  Pabodie  was  born,  (according  to 
"The  Pabodie  Family,"  by  B.  Frank  Pa- 
bodie), April  3,  1667,  and  was  the  twelfth 
child  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Alden) 
Pabodie.  William  Pabodie  was  of  Dux- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  and  Little  Compton, 
Rhode  Island.  He  was  born  in  1620,  in 
England,  and  died  December  13,  1707. 
He  married,  December  26,  1644,  Elizabeth 
Alden,  born  in  1625,  daughter  of  John  and 
Priscilla  (Mullins,  or  Molines)  Alden,  the 
story  of  whose  marriage  is  immortalized 
in  Longfellow's  "Courtship  of  Miles 
Standish."  William  Pabodie  (or  Pay- 
body)  settled  in  Plymouth  with  his  fa- 
ther ;  afterward  removed  to  Duxbury, 
where  he  held  many  offices  of  trust  and 
responsibility,  and  where  he  was  the 
owner  of  much  land.  He  was  one  of  those 
to  whom  Bridgewater  was  set  off  in  1645  5 
was  one  of  the  first  proprietors  of  Free- 
town in  1659;  was  one  OI  the  original  pur- 
chasers of  Little  Compton  in  1675,  and 
removed  there  with  his  family  about  1684. 
His  father,  John  Paybody,  was  born  in 
England  about  1590,  died  in  Bridgewater 
about  1667  ;  had  a  wife  named  Isabel.  He 
and  his  son  William  are  named  among 
the  original  proprietors  of  Plymouth. 
Daniel  Grinnell,  father  of  Daniel  Grinnell, 
mentioned  above,  was  born  in  1636,  in 
Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island,  and  died  in 
Little  Compton,  in  1703.  He  married 
Mary  Wodell,  born  in  November,  1640, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Wodell. 
William  Wodell  was  in  Boston  at  an  early 


date,  and  died  in  Tiverton,  Rhode  Island, 
in  1693.  In  1643,  he,  with  others,  was 
banished  from  Massachusetts  for  "heresy 
and  sedition"  and  returned  to  Ports- 
mouth, Rhode  Island,  where  they  had 
previously  been  living.  In  1643  ne  was 
granted  land  in  Portsmouth  ;  was  commis- 
sioner, 1656-63;  deputy,  1664-65-66-67-69- 
70-72-73-74-75-80-81-82-83-84-86.  During 
these  years  he  served  on  many  important 
committees.  In  1684  he  was  chosen 
assistant,  but  positively  declined  to  serve. 
Daniel  Grinnell  was  a  maltster  ;  was  made 
freeman  of  Portsmouth  in  1657.  His 
name  appears  in  several  real  estate  trans- 
actions in  that  town  and  at  Little  Comp- 
ton. He  served  on  the  Grand  Jury  and  as 
constable.  His  father,  Matthew  Grinnell, 
died  prior  to  1643  !  was  a  resident  of  New- 
port, Rhode  Island.  His  wife  Rose  died 
in  1673.  About  1717  or  1718  Theophilus 
Redfield  purchased  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  Chestnut 
Hill  in  Killingworth,  Connecticut,  and 
there  he  resided  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  served  on  many  important 
town  committees,  and  was  known  as 
"Sergeant  Redfield."  He  died  February 
14,  1759.  His  widow,  Priscilla  (Greenel 
or  Grinnell)  Redfield,  died  January  12, 
1770,  aged  eighty-one  years. 

(IV)  George  Redfield,  son  of  Theophi- 
lus and  Priscilla  (Greenel  or  Grinnell) 
Redfield,  was  born  November  7,  1725,  and 
lived  in  Killingworth.  He  married  (first), 
in  1750,  Trial  Ward,  daughter  of  Ira  and 
Lydia  (Parmelee)  Ward,  of  that  place. 
Mrs.  Redfield  died  some  time  after  1762. 
He  married  (second),  in  1767,  Abigail 
Stone,  who  died  in  1769.  George  Red- 
field  died  in  Killingworth,  May  30,  1812. 

(V)  Peleg  Redfield,  son  of  George  and 
Trial  (Ward)  Redfield,  was  born  May  14, 
1762,  and  in  1777  enlisted  as  a  fifer  in  the 
Connecticut  Line.  During  the  ensuing 
five  years  he  served  continuously  and  wit- 


Qo 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


nessed  the  burning  of  East  Haven,  being 
one  of  those  who  undertook  to  save  New 
Haven  from  the  marauding  expedition 
under  Tryon  and  Garth.  In  June,  1782, 
he  was  discharged  and  returned  to  Kil- 
lingworth,  where  he  resumed  his  work, 
which  was  the  trade  of  shoemaking. 
Later  he  removed  to  Suffield,  and  in  1800 
migrated  to  a  tract  which  he  had  pur- 
chased near  the  present  village  of  Clifton 
Springs,  in  the  town  of  Farmington  (now 
Manchester),  Ontario  county,  New  York. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  connected  with  a  number  of  its  be- 
nevolent associations.  He  married,  in 
1787,  Mary  Judd,  daughter  of  Heman 
and  Anna  (Goodrich)  Judd,  of  Farming- 
ton,  Connecticut,  and  his  death  occurred 
May  26,  1852,  on  his  farm  in  Ontario 
county,  New  York. 

(VI)  Manning  Redfield,  son  of  Peleg 
and  Mary  (Judd)  Redfield,  was  born 
March  17,  1791.  He  was  a  volunteer  in 
the  War  of  1812.  He  was  a  farmer  in 
Manchester  township,  Ontario  county, 
New  York.  He  married,  in  1828,  Milicent 
Goodrich  Hollister,  of  Berlin,  Connecti- 
cut. On  February  26,  1852,  he  died,  ex- 
actly three  months  prior  to  the  decease 
of  his  aged  father. 

(VII)  Charles  Manning  Redfield,  son 
of  Manning  and  Milicent  Goodrich  (Hol- 
lister) Redfield,  was  born  July  12,  1841, 
in  Manchester  township.  He  received  the 
greater  part  of  his  education  in  Rochester, 
New  York.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
but  on  reaching  manhood  became  a  mer- 
chant in  Clifton  Springs,  New  York. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  in  the 
Forty-eighth  Regiment,  New  York  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  but  was  attacked  by 
rheumatism  in  Norfolk,  Virginia,  and  thus 
incapacitated  for  further  service.  When 
about  fifty  years  of  age  he  retired  from 
business.  While  adhering  to  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Democratic  party  he  was  never 


a  politician.  He  affiliated  with  Canandai- 
gua  Lodge,  No.  294,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  Canandaigua,  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  married  Caro- 
line Florence  Younglove,  daughter  of 
Cornelius  and  Caroline  (Eddy)  Young- 
love,  who  died  February  28,  1878.  The 
name  of  Eddy  is  of  Anglo-Saxon  origin, 
and  in  its  ancient  form  of  Ead  was  not  a 
surname.  It  signifies  "prosperity."  Wil- 
liam Eddye  (as  the  name  was  then 
spelled)  was  a  native  of  Bristol,  Glouces- 
tershire, England,  and  from  1589  to  1616, 
when  he  died,  was  vicar  of  the  Church  of 
St.  Dunstan,  Cranbrook,  Kent.  He  mar- 
ried (first),  Mary  Fasten,  daughter  of 
John  Fasten,  who  died  in  161 1.  He  mar- 
ried (second),  in  1614,  Elizabeth  Taylor 
(widow).  John  Eddye,  son  of  William 
and  Mary  (Fasten)  Eddye,  came  in  1630 
with  his  brother  Samuel  to  Plymouth, 
Massachusetts,  and  thus  the  American 
branch  of  the  family  had  its  origin.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  Eddy  escutcheon : 

Arms — Sable,  three  old  men's  heads  couped  at 
the  shoulders  argent,  crined  proper. 

Crest — A  cross-crosslet  fitchee  sable,  and  a  dag- 
ger argent,  hilt  or,  in  saltire. 

Motto — Crux  tnihi  grata  quies. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Redfield  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children :  Tyler  Long- 
street,  mentioned  below ;  Judd  Hamilton, 
a  biography  of  whom  follows  in  this 
work;  and  Harriet  Caroline,  married  A.  J. 
Short,  of  Clifton  Springs,  now  of  Lima, 
New  York.  The  family  were  members 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in 
which  Mr.  Redfield  served  as  warden. 
Mr.  Redfield  died  January  9,  1913. 

(VIII)  Tyler  Longstreet  Redfield,  son 
of  Charles  Manning  and  Caroline  Flor- 
ence (Younglove)  Redfield,  was  born  De- 
cember 18,  1865,  in  Clifton  Springs,  New 
York,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of 
that  place.     At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  be- 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


came  an  apprentice  in  the  office  of  the 
Clifton  Springs  "Press."  Later  the  paper 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  trustees  who 
made  Mr.  Redfield  the  editor  and  pub- 
lisher despite  the  fact  that  he  was  then 
only  eighteen  years  of  age.  The  sequel 
proved,  however,  that  their  confidence 
was  not  misplaced,  the  youth  giving  evi- 
dence from  the  first  of  the  possession  of 
qualities  which  fitted  him  for  the  difficult 
positions  to  which  he  was  assigned. 

In  1885  Mr.  Redfield's  brother,  Judd 
Hamilton  Redfield,  was  employed  by  the 
Brooklyn  "Eagle,"  and  the  following  year 
he  also  went  into  the  composing  room  of 
that  paper.  The  brothers  remained  there 
until  1893,  when  they  founded  their  pres- 
ent business  by  opening  a  small  job  print- 
ing office.  Very  soon  they  began  to  do 
work  for  advertising  men,  that  being  the 
time  when  advertisers  were  first  awaken- 
ing to  the  possibilities  of  artistic,  yet 
forceful,  typography.  The  firm  of  Red- 
field  Brothers  not  only  had  a  thorough 
practical  knowledge  of  the  technique  of 
the  printer's  art,  but  they  also  possessed 
originality  and  that  indefinable  faculty, 
taste,  artistic  perception  as  applied  to 
typography.  The  superiority  of  their 
work  along  these  lines  quickly  brought 
them  a  volume  of  business  which  has  ever 
since  been  steadily  augmented,  until  to- 
day it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  company, 
doing  a  business  of  upward  of  a  million 
dollars  a  year,  is  among  the  half-dozen 
leaders  in  the  business  in  the  United 
States.  It  soon  came  to  pass  that  periodi- 
cals were  brought  to  them,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  they  were  among  the  largest 
printers  of  magazines.  For  a  long  time 
they  printed  the  "International  Studio," 
"Life"  and  other  publications  of  that 
class,  also  doing  fine  catalogue  work.  In 
1917  Redfield  Brothers  was  consolidated 
with  the  Kendrick-Odell  Press  and  the 
name  changed  to  Redfield-Kendrick-Odell 


Company.  Map-making  was  taken  up  at 
that  time,  and  here  their  originality  again 
came  into  play,  for  they  introduced  new, 
soft  colorings,  which  in  their  harmonious 
combinations  make  their  map-work  un- 
questionably the  most  beautiful  now  pro- 
duced. They  number  among  their  cus- 
tomers many  of  the  largest  users  of  print- 
ing in  America. 

The  company's  plant  was  at  first  situ- 
ated at  No.  73  Warren  street,  New  York 
City,  and  when  more  spacious  quarters 
were  demanded  they  moved  to  Park  place, 
their  next  migration  being  to  No.  411 
Pearl  street.  There  they  remained  about 
ten  years,  removing  in  1907  to  their  pres- 
ent fine  quarters  in  the  Scribner  building 
at  No.  311  West  Forty-third  street.  A 
detailed  description  of  their  equipment 
would  be  superfluous.  It  is  enough  to 
say  that  it  comprises  the  latest  and  most 
modern  machinery  necessary  for  the  pro- 
duction of  the  highest  class  of  printing 
and  engraving.  Five  years  ago  the  com- 
pany purchased  the  publication  known  as 
"Newspaperdom,"  which  they  have 
greatly  improved,  causing  it  to  be  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  best  class  publications 
in  the  United  States. 

In  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  and 
progress  of  his  home  town  of  Greenwich 
Mr.  Redfield  has  ever  maintained  the  live- 
liest interest.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Putnam  Trust  Company  of 
Greenwich  and  has  since  occupied  a  seat 
on  its  board  of  directors.  He  is  a  trustee 
of  the  Greenwich  Hospital  and  the  Bruns- 
wick School  of  Greenwich. 

The  love  of  the  open,  which  is  one  of 
Mr.  Redfield's  marked  characteristics,  has 
led  him  to  become  the  owner  of  a  farm 
at  the  top  of  Round  Hill,  in  the  town  of 
Greenwich,  where  he  has  built  one  of  the 
beautiful  houses  of  that  section.  About 
twenty-five  acres  are  devoted  to  general 
farming,  and  he  has  productive  orchards, 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


a  herd  of  fine  cattle  and  much  first-class 
poultry.  Riding  and  golf  are  among  his 
favorite  recreations.  Mr.  Redfield  is  a 
member  of  the  Greenwich  Country  Club, 
the  Field  Club  of  Greenwich,  and  the  In- 
dian Harbor  Yacht  Club,  also  of  Green- 
wich. He  was  for  a  long  time  a  member 
of  the  New  York  Yacht  Club. 

Mr.  Redfield  married,  September  9, 
1908,  Lydia  Pearson,  widow  of  James 
Clifton  Pearson,  of  Wakefield,  Massachu- 
setts, and  daughter  of  Albert  Judd 
Wright,  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Wright 
&  Potter,  State  printers  of  Boston.  Mrs. 
Redfield  was  the  mother  of  four  children. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Redfield  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Science  church. 


REDFIELD,  Robert  Latimer, 

Lawyer,   Author. 

One  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  New 
York  City,  and  an  acknowledged  leader 
in  his  profession,  Robert  Latimer  Red- 
field,  of  the  firm  of  Hill,  Lockwood,  Red- 
field  &  Lydon,  has  achieved  more  than 
temporary  fame.  He  will  be  known  to  the 
generation  succeeding  him  through  the 
legal  works  of  which  he  is  the  author  and 
editor.  Mr.  Redfield  descends  from  a 
long  line  of  courageous  pioneers  of  New 
England.  The  family  has  not  been  traced 
in  England,  and  the  name  has  undergone 
many  changes  in  spelling  as  was  common 
with  many  of  the  early  surnames. 

(IV)  Peleg  Redfield,  son  of  Theophilus 
and  Priscilla  (Greenel,  or  Grinnell)  Red- 
field  (q.  v.),  was  born  April  2,  1723.  In 
1756  he  was  appointed  second  lieutenant, 
10th  Company,  2nd  Connecticut  Regi- 
ment, raised  for  campaign  against  the 
French.  In  1758  he  served  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  same  regiment.  In  the 
spring  of  1759  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain and  took  command  of  ninety  men 
which  he  had  raised  in  and  about  Killing- 


worth.  This  company  formed  part  of  the 
2nd  Regiment  under  Colonel  Nathan 
Whiting.  They  participated  in  the  cam- 
paign against  Ticonderoga,  and  in  1760 
Peleg  Redfield  again  saw  active  service 
with  the  same  company  and  regiment, 
participating  in  the  military  operations 
which  closed  with  the  surrender  of  Mon- 
treal. Upon  his  return  he  became  ill  with 
smallpox  in  Albany,  and  died  on  his  jour- 
ney home  near  Stockbridge,  Massachu- 
setts, December  5,  1760.  He  married, 
April  25,  1744,  Sarah  Dudley,  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth  (Graves)  Dudley, 
of  Guilford. 

(V)  Beriah  Redfield,  son  of  Peleg  and 
Sarah  (Dudley)  Redfield,  was  born  No- 
vember 21,  1745.  His  early  life  was  spent 
in  Killingworth,  and  later  he  resided  in 
Richmond,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was 
a  farmer  on  an  extensive  scale.  On 
November  5,  1770,  he  married  Dorothy 
Stevens,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Doro- 
thy (Parker)  Stevens,  of  Killingworth, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1816  he  removed  to 
Junius,  Seneca  county,  New  York,  where 
he  died  June  4,  1819. 

(VI)  Captain  Luther  Redfield,  son  of 
Beriah  and  Dorothy  (Stevens)  Redfield, 
was  born  in  Richmond,  Massachusetts, 
November  26,  1780.  He  married,  May  19, 
1803,  Mary  Dryer,  born  March  3,  1781, 
died  May  7,  1853,  daughter  of  John  and 
Kezia  (French)  Dryer.  In  January,  1806, 
he  removed  to  Junius,  Seneca  county, 
New  York,  then  a  wilderness.  He  be- 
came an  active  and  substantial  citizen. 
He  made  his  first  journey  to  Junius  on 
foot  and  returned  to  Massachusetts  the 
same  year.  The  year  following  he 
brought  his  wife  and  two  children  to 
Junius,  with  his  household  effects,  and 
purchased  and  cleared  a  large  farm.  Dur- 
ing the  War  of  1812  he  was  captain  of 
the  town  militia,  and  upon  the  landing  of 
the  British  soldiers  at  Sodus  in  June,  he 


93 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


and  his  soldiers  were  summoned  to  the 
defense  of  that  place.  For  nearly  a  half 
century  Captain  Redfield  was  a  deacon 
and  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

(VII)  Luther  (2)  Redfield,  son  of  Cap- 
tain Luther  (1)  and  Mary  (Dryer)  Red- 
field,  was  born  in  Junius,  New  York,  July 
I,  1815,  and  later  removed  to  Clyde,  New 
York.  In  1849  ne  removed  to  New  York 
City  and  became  a  dealer  in  grain  and 
provisions,  continuing  until  1871.  In  the 
latter  year  he  removed  to  Tarrytown, 
where  he  became  president  of  the  village. 
During  this  period  he  became  associated 
with  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Tarry- 
town,  and  finally  became  its  president. 
He  married,  in  Clyde,  August  1,  1836, 
Eliza  Ann  Angell,  daughter  of  Amasa  and 
Mary  (Ward)  Angell,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred September  9,  1878. 

(VIII)  Amasa  Angell  Redfield,  son  of 
Luther  (2)  and  Eliza  Ann  (Angell)  Red- 
field,  was  born  in  Clyde,  New  York,  May 
19,  1837.  At  an  early  age  he  removed  to 
New  York  City,  and  after  attending 
school  in  Bloomfield,  New  Jersey,  entered 
New  York  University,  the  class  of  i860, 
with  which  he  was  graduated.  He  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Austin 
Abbott,  and  subsequently  attained  an  ex- 
tensive practice.  He  became  official  re- 
porter of  the  Surrogates  Court  and  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  serving  from 
1877  to  1882.  Early  in  life  he  devoted 
himself  to  literary  work,  and  for  many 
years  contributed  to  the  "Knickerbocker 
Magazine."  He  also  wrote  a  number  of 
books  on  legal  subjects  which  became 
widely  known  and  uniformly  accepted  as 
authorities.  During  the  last  few  years  of 
his  life,  he  resided  in  Farmington,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  died  October  19,  1902. 
Mr.  Redfield  drew  and  put  through  the 
constitution  of  the  Borough  of  Farming- 
ton  and  had  it  adopted  by  the  Legislature. 
He    was    elected    senior    burgess    of    the 


borough,  which  office  he  held  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Redfield  was  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Con- 
necticut, and  was  nominated  for  this  office 
on  both  tickets  by  his  fellow-citizens.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Bar  As- 
sociation and  of  the  Zeta  Psi  fraternity. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  working 
on  the  "Judicial  History  of  New  York." 
In  his  younger  days  he  was  a  member 
of  the  West  Presbyterian  Church  in  West 
Forty-second  street,  New  York  City,  and 
later  became  identified  with  St.  Timothy's 
Episcopal  Church.  Upon  his  removal  to 
Farmington,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church  there. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Redfield  married  Sarah  L. 
Cooke,  daughter  of  Robert  L.  and  Caro- 
line (Van  Deventer)  Cooke,  and  their 
children  were:  1.  Robert  Latimer,  of 
whom  further.  2.  Edith,  born  September 
22,  1867;  married,  November  29,  1887, 
Frederic  T.  Cooper,  and  they  have  the  fol- 
lowing children  :  Doris  R.,  born  December 
29,  1890;  Helen  T.,  born  November  25, 
1893 ;  Marjorie  H.,  born  February  14, 
1896. 

(IX)  Robert  Latimer  Redfield,  son  of 
Amasa  Angell  and  Sarah  L.  (Cooke) 
Redfield,  was  born  July  30,  1864.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years  he  was  graduated 
from  Yale  College  with  the  degree  of 
B.  A.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  his 
father's  preceptor,  Austin  Abbott,  and  in 
1888  was  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar. 
In  1890  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
father,  which  continued  until  the  latter's 
death  in  1902.  By  the  admission  of  Rich- 
ard P.  Lydon  in  1898  (now  a  justice  of 
the  New  York  Supreme  Court),  the  firm 
name  was  changed  to  Redfield,  Redfield 
&  Lydon.  In  1906  the  firm  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  old  firm  of  Lockwood  & 
Hill,  becoming  known  as  Hill,  Lockwood, 
Redfield  &  Lydon.  Mr.  Redfield  special- 
izes in  estates  and  probate  matters.    The 


94 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


last  four  editions  of  his  father's  work  on 
the  law  of  Surrogate's  Court  were  writ- 
ten by  him,  and  in  1919  Mr.  Redfield 
wrote  "The  Descent  and  Administration 
of  Estates."  During  the  winter  season 
Mr.  Redfield  lives  in  New  York  City,  and 
in  the  summer  time  in  Farmington,  Con- 
necticut, on  the  estate  inherited  from  his 
father. 

Mr.  Redfield  married,  November  1, 
1894,  Emma  J.  Balen,  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Mary  A.  (Stickney)  Balen,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  two  sons :  Robert  Lati- 
mer, Jr.,  born  July  7,  1904 ;  John  Alden, 
born  January  1,  1907.  Mr.  Redfield's 
clubs  are :  The  Yale  Club  of  New  York, 
the  New  York  Bankers'  Club,  New  York 
Biographical  and  Genealogical  Society, 
the  Farmington  Country  Club,  Shuttle 
Meadow  Club,  Lakewood  Golf  Club  of 
New  Jersey,  Cherry  Valley  Club  of  Gar- 
den City,  and  the  New  York  Law  Insti- 
tute. 


REDFIELD,  Judd  Hamilton, 

Master  Printer. 

Long  before  coming  to  Greenwich  Mr. 
Redfield  was  a  well-established  business 
man  of  New  York  City  and  now,  as 
treasurer  of  the  widely  known  printing 
house  of  Redfield-Kendrick-Odell  Com- 
pany, he  is  prominent  in  his  own  line. 
Mr.  Redfield  has  other  business  interests 
and  is  numbered  among  the  most  highly 
respected  residents  of  his  home  city. 

(VIII)  Judd  Hamilton  Redfield,  son 
of  Charles  Manning  and  Caroline  Flor- 
ence (Younglove)  Redfield  (q.  v.),  was 
born  January  22,  1867,  in  Clifton  Springs. 
He  received  his  education  in  local  public 
schools.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  began 
to  learn  the  printer's  trade,  afterward  fol- 
lowing it  as  a  journeyman.  On  attaining 
his  majority,  Mr.  Redfield,  in  association 
with  his  brother,  established  an  independ- 


ent business  in  New  York  City  under  the 
firm  name  of  Redfield  Brothers.  That 
was  in  1893  and  two  years  later  the  busi- 
ness was  incorporated  under  the  same 
name.  The  firm  did  general  jobbing  and 
commercial  printing,  also  some  publica- 
tion printing,  and  as  the  years  went  on 
built  up  a  strong  and  flourishing  concern. 
In  1917  the  business  was  consolidated 
with  the  Kendrick-Odell  Press  and  the 
name  changed  to  the  Redfield-Kendrick- 
Odell  Company,  with  Mr.  Redfield  as 
treasurer,  that  being  the  office  which  he 
had  held  in  the  firm  of  Redfield  Broth- 
ers. The  house  makes  a  specialty  of  fine 
commercial  and  map  printing,  and  has 
rapidly  made  for  itself  a  position  among 
the  foremost  printers  of  the  United  States. 
For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Redfield  was 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Governors  of 
the  New  York  Printers'  Board  of  Trade 
and  was  its  president  for  one  year.  Mr. 
Redfield  is  a  director  of  the  firm  of  A. 
Ackerman  &  Son,  dealers  in  old  prints. 
In  1909  Mr.  Redfield  became  a  resident 
of  Greenwich  and  has  ever  since  taken  a 
helpful  interest  in  everything  which  in 
his  judgment  has  a  tendency  to  advance 
the  welfare  of  his  community.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Greenwich  Country  Club. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  Christ 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  of  Green- 
wich. 

Mr.  Redfield  married,  November  25, 
191 1,  Emily  Louise  Rockwood,  daughter 
of  George  W.  and  Emily  Louise  (Wright) 
Rockwood,  of  Wakefield,  Massachusetts, 
but  originally  of  Ashburnham.  The 
Rockwoods  are  an  old  family  of  English 
origin,  a  branch  of  which  was  early 
planted  in  New  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Redfield  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren :  Judd  Hamilton,  Jr.,  born  May  18, 
1913;  Tyler  Adams,  born  November  16, 
1918;  and  Howard  Wright,  born  May  5, 
1921. 


95 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Judd  Hamilton  Redfield  has  helped  to 
found  and  develop  a  business  which  has 
a  national  reputation,  and  occupies  a 
place  among  the  leading  citizens  of  his 
community.  He  is  entitled,  beyond  all 
question,  to  be  called  a  truly  successful 
man. 

MATHER,  David  Nelson, 

Business  Man. 

The  name  of  Mather  can  be  found  on 
record  among  the  oldest  English  sur- 
names. In  the  parish  records  of  Leigh, 
about  two  miles  from  Lowton,  Lanca- 
shire, England,  is  found  mention  of  Ma- 
ther baptisms  as  early  as  1558.  There 
are  few  names  so  prominently  connected 
with  our  early  New  England  history  as 
that  of  Mather.  The  name  is  derived  from 
math,  and  signifies  honor  or  reverence. 
The  motto  of  the  Mather  family,  "Virtus 
vera  nobilitas  est,"  is  an  ample  presenta- 
tion of  the  qualities  of  the  family  which 
in  England  and  New  England  has  held  a 
place  of  conspicuous  prominence  in  the 
history  of  both  countries. 

The  Mather  family  of  which  David  Nel- 
son Mather  is  a  worthy  scion  has  been 
settled  in  Darien,  Connecticut,  for  four 
generations.  The  great-grandfather  of 
Mr.  Mather,  Joseph  Mather,  being  the  pi- 
oneer. The  latter  receives  extended  men- 
tion in  the  ancestry  which  follows.  The 
old  homestead  in  Darien  is  still  called  the 
"Old  Mather  Homestead,"  and  it  is  one  of 
the  ancient  landmarks  which  are  fast  dis- 
appearing. The  members  of  this  family 
have  followed  agricultural  pursuits  for 
generations :  they  have  been  producers 
and  among  the  worthy  men  of  their  day. 

(I)  Rev.  Richard  Mather,  immigrant  an- 
cestor, was  born  in  Lowton,  Winwick 
parish,  Lancashire,  England,  in  1596,  and 
died  in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  April 
22,  1669.  He  attended  the  public  school 
in    Winwick,    and    in    the    summer    time 


walked  four  miles  to  school.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  he  was  recommended  for 
teacher  of  a  school  near  Liverpool.  There 
Rev.  Mr.  Mather  remained  for  several 
years,  and  during  this  time  was  brought 
within  the  good  influence  of  Aspinwall, 
and  also  listened  with  earnest  attention 
to  the  preaching  of  Harrison,  all  of  which 
seemed  to  instill  in  him  a  desire  to  enter 
the  ministry.  This  he  did,  taking  his 
theological  studies  at  Oxford,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years  was  ordained 
minister  at  Toxeth.  There  he  served  the 
ministry  faithfully  for  many  years.  Even- 
tually, religious  oppression  forced  him  to 
leave  England  and  he  sailed  on  the 
"James"  from  Bristol,  arriving  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  in  August,  1635.  On  Oc- 
tober 25,  of  the  same  year,  he  and  his 
wife  joined  the  Boston  church.  In  Au- 
gust, 1636,  Rev.  Richard  Mather  settled 
in  Dorchester,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death.  He  married  (first),  September 
29,  1624,  Catherine  Holt,  daughter  of  Ed- 
mund Holt,  of  Bury,  England,  and  she 
died  in  1655.  She  was  the  mother  of  Tim- 
othy Mather,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Timothy  Mather  was  born  in  Liv- 
erpool, England,  in  1628,  died  in  Dor- 
chester, January  14,  1684;  he  was  the  only 
one  of  his  father's  sons  that  grew  to  ma- 
turity and  did  not  enter  the  ministry.  He 
always  lived  near  his  father's  home,  and 
was  a  farmer.  His  death  was  caused  by 
a  fall  while  at  work  in  his  barn.  Mr. 
Mather  married  (first)  Mary  Atherton, 
daughter  of  Major-General  Humphrey 
Atherton,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  of  whom  Richard  Mather  is 
the  next  in  line  of  descent. 

(III)  Richard  (2)  Mather  was  born 
December  22,  1653,  and  died  in  Lyme, 
Connecticut,  August  17,  1688.  His  life 
was  spent  in  farming,  and  he  was  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Lyme.  He  married, 
July   1,   1680,  Catherine  Wise,  and  they 


96 


S^^o^r  (>f^  (A{ctJ2L^r 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


were  the  parents  of  Captain  Timothy  Ma- 
ther, oi  whom  further. 

(IV)  Captain  Timothy  (2)  Mather  was 
born  March  20,  1681,  and  died  July  25, 
1755.  He  married  Sarah  Noyes,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  Rev.  Moses  Mather, 
of  whom  further. 

(V)  Rev.  Moses  Mather  was  born  in 
Lyme,  Connecticut,  February  23,  1719, 
and  died  in  Darien,  Connecticut,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1806.  He  graduated  from  Yale 
College  in  1739,  and  was  a  fellow  of  that 
institution  from  1777  to  1790.  Rev.  Mr. 
Mather  was  early  settled  in  Darien  as 
pastor  of  a  church  there  established  in 
1740.  In  1791  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was 
conferred  on  him  by  the  College  of  New 
Jersey.  During  the  Revolutionary  War 
he  was  subjected  to  many  indignities  at 
the  hands  of  the  Tories  who  were  very 
numerous  in  that  vicinity.  He  was  made 
prisoner  by  them  and  confined  for  some 
time.  During  his  imprisonment  his  food 
was  of  the  worst  and  his  surroundings 
were  very  poor.  There  was  a  woman, 
said  to  be  the  mother  of  Washington  Ir- 
ving, who  sent  him  food  and  clothing  and 
in  other  ways  managed  to  make  his  forced 
stay  endurable.  Rev.  Mr.  Mather  mar- 
ried (first)  September  10,  1746,  Hannah 
Bell,  and  she  died  April  21,  1755.  They 
were  the  parents  of  Joseph  Mather,  of 
whom  further. 

(VI)  Joseph  Mather  was  born  July  21, 
1753,  and  died  February  29,  1840.  He 
was  known  as  Deacon  Joseph,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  influential  citizens  of 
Darien,  Connecticut.  His  home  was  back 
from  the  main  traveled  path  a  consider- 
able distance,  and  because  of  this  fact 
was  not  so  easily  found  by  the  British 
enemy.  It  was  customary  for  many  of 
the  neighbors  to  bring  their  silver  and 
other  valuables  to  Deacon  Mather's  house 
to  conceal  them  there  until  such  time  as 

Conn— 8— 7 


they  could  be  carried  to  a  better  place  of 
safety.  In  the  spring  of  1781  the  enemy 
learned  of  this  practice  and  before  the  val- 
uables could  be  taken  away  they  came  to 
the  house  and  confiscated  everything. 
Deacon  Mather  married,  May  29,  1777, 
Sarah  Scott,  and  she  died  August  27,  1843. 
They  were  the  parents  of  Joseph  (2)  Ma- 
ther, of  whom  further. 

(VII)  Joseph  (2)  Mather  was  born 
September  30,  1789,  and  died  September 
27,  1864.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  useful 
citizen  of  the  community.  The  house  in 
which  Joseph  Mather  was  born  is  now 
the  summer  home  of  his  grandson,  Ste- 
phen T.  Mather,  who  receives  extended 
mention  in  the  following  sketch.  For 
several  terms  Joseph  Mather  served  as 
selectman ;  he  was  originally  a  Whig  in 
politics,  and  later  a  Republican.  For 
many  years  he  attended  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  a  consistent  Christian  and 
active  worker  of  the  church.  On  Janu- 
ary 1,  1812,  he  married  (first)  Sally  Jar- 
vis,  and  (second)  October  6,  1816,  Happy 
Osborne  Wakeman.  His  second  wife 
died  December  31,  1871. 

(VIII)  David  Banks  Mather,  son  of 
Joseph  (2)  and  Happy  Osborne  (Wake- 
man)  Mather,  was  born  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood, October  16,  1817,  and  died  De- 
cember 18,  1876.  In  his  younger  days  he 
was  a  school  teacher  and  was  also  a 
farmer  throughout  his  lifetime.  He  mar- 
ried, November  10,  1841,  Julia  Everett, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  1.  Anna  Eliza,  now  the 
widow  of  James  S.  Weed,  of  Stamford, 
Connecticut.  2*  Sarah  Cornelia,  deceased, 
married  Michael  Newbauer,  of  New  York 
City.  3.  David  Nelson,  who  receives  ex- 
tended mention  below.  4.  Julia  Louise, 
deceased,  married  Theodore  Scofield,  of 
Danbury,  Connecticut.  The  Mather  fam- 
ily were  active  members  of  the  Congrega- 


97 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


tional  church,  and  David  B.  Mather  was 
active  in  church  work  during  his  lifetime. 

(IX)  David  Nelson  Mather,  son  of  Da- 
vid B.  and  Julia  (Everett)  Mather,  was 
horn  on  the  place  he  now  occupies  in 
Darien,  Connecticut,  October  23,  1852. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town,  and  immediately  after 
completing  his  schooling  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  caring  for  the 
home  farm.  After  the  death  of  the  latter 
in  1876,  Mr.  Mather  succeeded  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  farm  and  for  forty  years  has 
been  engaged  in  the  retail  milk  business 
in  the  village.  Mr.  Mather  is  among  the 
best  known  citizens  of  Darien,  and  has 
always  been  found  willing  to  aid  in  any 
of  the  public  enterprises.  For  many 
years  he  has  served  as  constable,  which 
office  he  now  holds.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  staunchly  adheres  to  the 
interests  of  that  party. 

Mr.  Mather  married  Ida  Matilda  Mc- 
Ewen,  daughter  of  Daniel  Chattel  and 
Sarah  Amelia  (Sale)  McEwen.  Daniel  C. 
McEwen  was  born  in  Paisley,  Scotland, 
son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  McEwen.  The 
former  was  eighteen  years  old  when  he 
came  to  America  and  learned  the  trade  of 
tailor,  which  he  followed  in  New  York 
City  until  the  Civil  War.  Mr.  McEwen 
died  in  1864.  at  the  early  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mather  were 
the  parents  of  three  children:  1.  Fred- 
erick Clinton,  born  September  21,  1876, 
now  deceased.  He  married  Murilla  Louise 
Smith,  and  left  a  daughter,  Mabel  Pier- 
pont.  2.  Florence  Amelia,  born  Decem- 
ber 26,  1878,  married  Samuel  Lewis  Rice, 
and  has  one  son,  Clarence  Chattel,  born 
July  17,  1903.  3.  Clarence  Sale,  born 
June  21,  1884,  married  Margaret  Loretta 
Clark,  and  has  three  children :  Alberta 
Ida,  Marguerite  Mary,  and  Loretta  Ellen. 
Mr.  Mather  and  his  wife  attend  the  Con- 
gregational church  of  Darien. 


MATHER,  Stephen  Tyng, 

Manufacturer,    Director   of    National    Park 
Service. 

(\  III)  Joseph  Wakeman  Mather,  son 
of  Joseph  (2)  and  Happy  Osborne  (Wake- 
man)  Mather,  whose  ancestry  appears  in 
the  preceding  sketch,  was  born  in  Darien, 
Connecticut,  January  n,  1820.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  for 
some  years  taught  in  the  schools  of  Dar- 
ien and  surrounding  towns.  Then  Mr. 
Mather  went  to  New  York  City  and  at 
first  worked  in  mercantile  establishments, 
but  soon  resumed  teaching,  finally  be- 
coming principal  of  one  of  the  downtown 
grammar  schools.  Returning  again  to 
business  life,  he  became  identified  with 
the  old  importing  house  of  Alsop  &  Com- 
pany, with  whom  he  remained  a  number 
of  years,  until  1863,  when  he  went  to 
California  to  assume  the  office  of  secre- 
tary of  the  Quick-Silver  Mining  Com- 
pany. There  he  remained  a  number  of 
years,  and  for  part  of  the  time  was  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  commission  mer- 
chant. While  in  San  Francisco,  Mr.  Ma- 
ther served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  In  1888  he  returned  to  the  East 
as  representative  of  the  California  Borax 
Company,  with  headquarters  in  Wall 
street,  remaining  with  this  company  until 
1897,  in  which  year  he  retired.  Mr.  Ma- 
ther's summers  were  always  spent  in  the 
home  of  his  forefathers  at  Darien.  He 
died  there,  August  21,  1905. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  phases  of 
his  career  was  his  membership  in  the 
original  Fremont  &  Dayton  Glee  Club, 
which  was  organized  for  the  campaign  of 
1856.  He  had  a  fine  tenor  voice,  which 
he  retained  in  splendid  volume  and  qual- 
ity until  late  in  life.  In  politics  Mr.  Ma- 
ther was  a  Republican,  and  was  always 
active  in  political  matters.  He  was  an 
attendant    of    the    St.    George    Episcopal 


98 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Church  in  New  York  City,  and  was  a 
singer  in  the  choir  of  this  church  previ- 
ous to  1863.  He  married,  June  27,  1864, 
in  New  York  City,  Bertha  Jemima  Wal- 
ker, born  March  31,  1844,  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Sophia  (Shedell)  Walker,  of 
New  York  City.  Their  children  were : 
Ella  Maria,  deceased ;  Stephen  Tyng,  of 
further  mention ;  Joseph  Wakeman,  born 
January  18,  1869,  died  February  4,  1888. 

(IX)  Stephen  Tyng  Mather,  the  only 
surviving  child  of  Joseph  Wakeman  and 
Bertha  J.  (Walker)  Mather,  was  born 
July  4,  1867.  He  was  educated  in  the 
University  of  California,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1887  with  a  B.  L.  de- 
gree. For  five  years  subsequently  he 
worked  as  a  reporter,  and  from  1892  to 
1894  was  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
borax  business.  He  went  to  Chicago  in 
the  interests  of  this  business  and  estab- 
lished an  agency  there,  remaining  until 
1903.  In  the  latter  year  he  developed  his 
own  borax  business,  which  is  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  the  Thorkildsen-Ma- 
ther  Company,  the  same  interests  having 
a  corporation  in  California  known  as  the 
Sterling  Borax  Company,  and  since  their 
organization  Mr.  Mather  has  been  vice- 
president  of  these  corporations,  and  since 
1894  has  maintained  his  legal  residence  in 
Chicago. 

While  a  student  at  the  University  of 
California,  Hon.  Franklin  K.  Lane,  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior,  was  a  classmate, 
and  this  friendship  has  continued  through- 
out the  years.  He  asked  Mr.  Mather  to 
take  up  park  work,  and  in  191 5  Mr.  Ma- 
ther became  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior.  In  1917,  when  the  bureau 
known  as  the  National  Park  Service  was 
created,  Mr.  Mather  was  made  the  first 
director.  He  has  charge  of  nineteen  Na- 
tional parks,  and  is  responsible  for  their 
administration. 

Mr.  Mather  has  taken  a  great  interest 


in  mountain  climbing,  and  was  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Chicago  Geographic  So- 
ciety for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Prairie  Club  and  of  the 
Sierra  Club.  One  of  the  expeditions  of 
the  latter  club  was  a  climb  to  the  top  of 
Mt.  Rainier.  Mr.  Mather  is  a  member  of 
Sigma  Chi,  and  the  Golden  Bear,  an  hon- 
orary society  of  the  University  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  he  has  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Club  of  Chicago  since  its 
organization,  also  serving  this  institution 
as  vice-president.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  building  commission  that  erected  its 
present  fine  clubhouse.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  University  Club  of  Chicago ; 
the  Chicago  Athletic  Club ;  and  a  life 
member  of  the  Chicago  Art  Institute.  Mr. 
Mather  has  always  been  more  or  less  ac- 
tive in  the  United  Charities  and  served 
as  chairman  of  its  activities  in  the  stock- 
yards' district  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
helped  to  build  the  House  of  Social  Serv- 
ice. Other  clubs  of  which  Mr.  Mather  is 
a  member  are :  Down  Town  Club  of  New 
York;  New  York  Chemists',  the  New 
York  Drug  Club,  and  the  Cosmos  Club,  of 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Mr.  Mather  married  Jane  T.  Floy, 
daughter  of  James  T.  Floy,  of  Elizabeth, 
New  Jersey,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
a  daughter,  Bertha  F.  Mather.  The  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Re- 
deemer of  Chicago,  of  which  Mr.  Mather 
has  been  vestryman  for  ten  years. 

(The  Wakeman  Line). 

Mrs.  Happy  Osborne  (Wakeman)  Ma- 
ther's ancestry  is  equally  as  ancient  and 
prominent  as  her  husband's.  She  was 
born  January  27,  1794,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 31,  1871,  a  descendant  of  John  Wake- 
man, the  immigrant. 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  Wakeman 
has  an  added  interest  because  of  its  great 
antiquity.     It  was  a  title  originally  given 


99 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


to  the  chief  magistrate  of  Rippon,  in  York- 
shire, England,  and  literally  signified, 
"wide-awake  man."  This  title  descended 
from  father  to  son,  and  in  this  manner 
the  surname  originated.  The  family  has 
long  been  settled  in  New  England,  the 
founder,  John  Wakeman,  being  listed 
among  the  freemen  in  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, as  early  as  June  4,  1639. 

(I)  John  Wakeman  was  born  about 
1598-99,  in  Bewdley,  Worcestershire,  Eng- 
land, and  died  in  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
in  1661.  He  was  a  son  of  Francis  and 
Anna  (Goode)  Wakeman,  of  Bewdley. 
On  January  28,  1628-29,  John  Wakeman 
married,  at  Bewdley,  Elizabeth  Hopkins, 
daughter  of  William  and  Helen  (Vick- 
aris)  Hopkins,  baptized  October  7,  1610, 
in  Ribbeford  Church,  England,  and  died 
at  New  Haven,  in  1658. 

(II)  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman.  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Hopkins)  Wakeman, 
was  born,  probably,  in  1635,  as  he  was 
baptized  June  7,  of  that  year,  and  died 
March  8,  1692,  at  Fairfield,  Connecticut. 
He  was  ordained  September  30,  1665,  as 
second  pastor  of  the  church  at  Fairfield. 
His  early  education  was  obtained  at  Har- 
vard College.  Rev.  Mr.  Wakeman  mar- 
ried, August  28,  1656,  Hannah  Goodyear, 
daughter  of  Governor  Stephen  Goodyear, 
of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and  she  died 
in  1721. 

(III)  Captain  Joseph  Wakeman,  son  of 
Rev.  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Goodyear) 
Wakeman,  was  born  in  1670,  and  died 
December  5,  1726.  He  was  particularly 
prominent  in  affairs,  and  was  considered 
a  good  business  man.  Sufficient  warrant 
of  this  fact  is  found  in  his  will  showing 
his  estate  at  his  death  to  be  £5,000.  On 
December  13,  1704,  he  was  appointed 
lieutenant  by  the  council  (Queen  Anne's 
War),  and  was  appointed  captain  in  Fair- 
field, in  May,  1708.  Captain  Wakeman 
held  many  offices  of  trust  and  responsi- 


bility, and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
fellow-citizens.  He  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Fairfield,  and  as  probate 
judge  and  judge  of  the  County  Court.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  governor's  council 
from  1724  to  1725,  and  was  deputy  twenty- 
eight  sessions.  His  house,  which  was 
built  in  1670,  was  for  many  years  a  land- 
mark in  Fairfield.  This  house  and  that 
of  his  grandson  were  the  only  ones  the 
British  did  not  burn.  At  one  time  Cap- 
tain Wakeman  had  been  kind  to  some  pris- 
oners and  it  was  in  consideration  of  this 
that  they  spared  his  house.  It  is  said 
that  Captain  Wakeman  often  wished  they 
did  not  spare  it  as  he  was  afraid  his  neigh- 
bors would  think  he  was  a  Tory.  At  one 
time  several  British  officers  were  quar- 
tered in  his  home  and  in  one  of  the  rooms 
they  had  considerable  gold  money.  One 
of  Captain  Wakeman's  daughters,  hoping 
to  save  some  of  it,  concealed  a  gold  piece 
under  each  bedpost,  but  it  was  discovered. 
Captain  Wakeman  married,  in  1697-98, 
Elizabeth  Hawley,  born  May  6.  1679,  died 
August  18,  1753,  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
and  Esther  (Ward)  Hawley. 

(IV)  Stephen  Wakeman,  son  of  Cap- 
tain Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Hawley) 
Wakeman,  was  born  in  1716,  and  died 
March  23,  1760.  He  graduated  from  Yale 
College  in  1738,  with  the  degree  of  B.  A. 
On  January  11,  1734,  Stephen  Wakeman 
married  Mary  Adams,  born  in  1717-18, 
and  died  August  16,  1741,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Adams. 

(V)  Jesup  Wakeman,  son  of  Stephen 
and  Mary  (Adams)  Wakeman,  was  bap- 
tized September  25,  1748,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 2,  1780.  He  married,  at  Greenfield, 
Connecticut,  December  29,  1768,  Amelia 
Banks,  born  in  1746,  died  December  17, 
1833,  daughter  of  Nehemiah  and  Abigail 
(Bradley)  Banks. 

(VI)  Banks  Wakeman,  son  of  Jesup 
and  Amelia  (Banks)  Wakeman,  was  born 

00 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


September  12,  1769,  and  died  March  29, 
1835.  He  married  (first)  Happy  Os- 
borne, and  (second)  in  Fairfield,  Connec- 
ticut, November  20,  1796,  Eleanor  Jen- 
nings, born  April  28,  1776,  died  March  25, 
1861,  daughter  of  Joshua  Jennings. 

(VII)  Happy  Osborne  Wakeman,  a 
daughter  of  Banks  and  Happy  (Osborne) 
Wakeman,  became  the  wife  of  Joseph 
(2)  Mather,  as  above  noted. 


MATHER,  William  Francis, 

Building   Contractor. 

In  the  death  of  William  Francis  Mather 
early  in  1921  there  was  removed  from  the 
Norwalk  community  one  of  its  oldest 
citizens,  a  man  who  for  seventy  of  his 
ninety-two  years  followed  his  calling  in 
this  place.  William  Francis  Mather  was 
a  son  of  Joseph  (2)  and  Happy  Osborne 
(Wakeman)  Mather  (q.  v.),  and  was  born 
on  the  old  Mather  homestead,  May  13, 
1829.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home 
farm,  and  remained  there  until  1847, 
when  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  For  seventy  years  he  was 
active  in  this  line  as  journeyman  and  con- 
tractor, and  his  long  career  placed  to  his 
credit  the  building  of  more  houses  than 
have  been  constructed  in  Fairfield  county 
by  any  other  man.  His  four  sons,  all  of 
whom  were  trained  in  the  same  trade, 
were  associated  with  him  in  his  opera- 
tions, and  in  1851  Mr.  Mather  built  the 
house  that  was  his  residence  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  a  home  on  Five  Acre  lot. 
Mr.  Mather  was  orderly  sergeant  in  the 
Norwalk  Artillery  Company,  and  served 
three  years  before  attaining  his  majority. 
He  was  widely  acquainted  and  popular  in 
his  locality,  interested  in  all  that  con- 
cerned the  welfare  of  his  fellows,  and  held 
by  them  in  the  respect  that  is  always 
rendered   to   one   who   lives   an   upright, 


moral  life.    William  Francis  Mather  died 
January  13,  1921. 

Mr.  Mather  married,  December  30, 
1850,  Emeline  L.  Gregory,  daughter  of 
George  B.  and  Nancy  (Taylor)  Gregory, 
of  Cranbury  Plain,  in  the  town  of  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut,  who  was  born  Febru- 
ary 18,  1829,  and  died  September  27,  1912. 
Children:  1.  William  Joseph,  born  No- 
vember 27,  1851 ;  married,  September  10, 
1874,  Fannie  M.  F.  Hitchcock.  2.  George 
Wallace,  born  August  31,  1855;  married, 
March  12,  1881,  Minerva  Crabb.  3.  Happy 
Isabell,  born  January  23,  1857;  married, 
April  8,  1875,  Thaddeus  B.  Johnson.  4. 
Charles  Francis,  born  June  25,  1859;  mar- 
ried, March  6,  1881,  Jennie  F.  Knapp.  5. 
Edwin  Lincoln,  born  April  22,  1861 ;  mar- 
ried, August  14,  1883,  Maud  Platts.  6. 
Nellie  Frances,  born  October  3,  1874. 


LEES,  John  A., 

Head  of  Important  Business. 

The  history  of  the  Lees  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Westport  is  a  very  interest- 
ing one.  It  is  not  only  the  oldest  business 
enterprise  of  that  town,  but  there  have 
been  four  generations  of  the  Lees  family 
at  the  head  of  its  management  continu- 
ously. The  present  plant  stands  on  the 
same  site  as  the  original.  The  plant  was 
started  in  1814  in  the  face  of  much  local 
opposition  and  doubt  as  to  its  feasibility. 
An  interesting  item  in  the  contract  for 
the  original  building  was  the  stipulation 
that  in  raising  the  frame,  the  building 
committee  should  supply  one  gallon  of 
West  India  rum  and  three  gallons  of 
elderberry  brandy.  The  mill  started  with 
fifteen  employees,  and  the  depression  fol- 
lowing the  War  of  1812  made  the  enter- 
prise unprofitable.  It  sustained  a  pre- 
carious existence  until  1834,  when  Joseph 
Wood  and  Robert  Raymond  rented  the 
mill  and  operated  it  for  four  years.    From 


101 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1838  to  1843  the  enterprise  lay  dormant, 
and  in  the  latter  year  John  Lees  took  it 
in  hand. 

John  Lees  was  the  founder  of  his  fam- 
ily in  America.  He  was  born  in  Glhn- 
clonch,  township  of  Preswick,  County 
Lancashire,  England,  in  1786,  and  sailed 
from  Liverpool,  England,  February  20, 
1810,  landing  in  New  York  City  the  fol- 
lowing April.  He  was  a  man  of  skill  and 
enterprise,  and  infused  new  life  into  the 
business  when  he  assumed  its  manager- 
ship in  1843.  He  spent  much  money  and 
labor  in  improvements,  and  kept  the  mill 
running  all  the  time  on  a  paying  basis. 
After  fifteen  years  of  faithful  endeavor, 
the  warnings  of  age  made  him  retire,  and 
in  1858  his  son  succeeded  him.  John  Lees 
married,  at  the  Friends  Meeting,  August 
5,  1812,  Martha  Comstock.  Their  son, 
Thomas  Robert  Lees,  is  mentioned  be- 
low. 

Thomas  Robert  Lees  was  born  in  Hol- 
den,  Massachusetts,  and  died  in  Westport, 
Connecticut.  After  succeeding  his  father 
as  the  head  of  the  mill,  he  continued  to 
successfully  manage  the  affairs  for  twenty 
years.  He  had  practiced  running  the  mill 
for  years  before  he  became  owner,  and  in 
1878,  when  fire  destroyed  the  mill,  he 
had  been  a  manufacturer  for  thirty-five 
years.  Thomas  R.  Lees  was  a  director  of 
the  Westport  Savings  Bank ;  he  was  a 
Republican,  and  served  as  representative 
in  the  State  Legislature.  He  married,  in 
Auburn,  Massachusetts,  Elizabeth  Clarke, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Rice) 
Clarke.  They  were  the  parents  of  Robert 
T.  Lees,  mentioned  below. 

Robert  T.  Lees  became  president  and 
treasurer  at  the  time  the  business  was  in- 
corporated in  1881.  The  capital  was 
$25,000,  afterwards  increased  to  $50,000, 
and  the  work  of  rebuilding  on  the  old  site 
began.  The  new  factory  of  stone  and 
brick,  in  every  way  larger  and  more  com- 


modious than  the  old  one,  was  completed 
in  ninety  days.  It  was  equipped  with  the 
latest  and  most  improved  machinery,  and 
in  this  respect  the  equipment  has  always 
been  kept  abreast  of  the  latest  develop- 
ments. Robert  T.  Lees  was  accustomed 
to  work  in  his  father's  factory  at  the 
early  age  of  twelve,  and  obtained  by  prac- 
tical experience  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
every  detail  of  the  business.  In  1874  he 
entered  the  commission  house  of  Lees 
&  Kelly,  and  for  six  years  traveled  over 
the  entire  country  as  their  representative. 
He  married  Lucy  P.  Lees.  Robert  T. 
Lees  died  September  19,  1913. 

John  A.  Lees,  son  of  Robert  T.  Lees, 
was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  Janu- 
ary 21,  1875.  He  attended  school  there. 
He  was  ten  years  of  age  when  he  came 
to  Westport,  Connecticut,  and  six  years 
later  entered  the  plant  of  the  Lees  Man- 
ufacturing Company.  Mr.  Lees  began 
at  the  very  bottom  and  learned  each  de- 
tail of  the  business,  preparing  himself  for 
the  time  when  he  would  be  at  its  head. 
His  father  was  his  able  preceptor,  and 
in  1905  John  A.  Lees  had  progressed  suf- 
ficiently to  hold  the  office  of  secretary  and 
general  manager.  The  company's  prod- 
ucts consist  of  cotton  cordage,  twines, 
wicks,  yarns,  braided  goods,  glazed  and 
polished  twines  and  threads.  The  factory 
buildings  include  a  large  modern  dye 
plant  for  coloring  its  twines,  threads  and 
yarns.  The  products  are  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  world  under  its  well  known 
registered  trade-marks — "La  Favorita" 
and  "Octagon"  brands.  The  company's 
water  power  is  drawn  from  the  beautiful 
Saugatuck  river,  the  mill  being  located 
on  the  banks  of  one  of  its  tributaries.  The 
recent  purchase  of  an  additional  factory 
site  and  brick  building  in  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, will  afford  the  company  a  sub- 
stantial increase  in  its  production.  The 
Lees  family  has  always  owned  control  of 


102 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


the  company,  and  at  the  present  time  the 
business  of  the  Lees  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany is  headed  by  John  A.  Lees,  who  is 
of  the  fourth  generation  of  the  family. 

Fraternally,  John  A.  Lees  is  a  member 
of  Temple  Lodge,  No.  65,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons ;  Pyramid  Temple, 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Bridge- 
port, and  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish 
Rite ;  Lafayette  Consistory,  Sublime 
Princes  of  the  Royal  Secret,  thirty-second 
degree,  Bridgeport;  also  Clinton  Com- 
mandery,  No.  3,  Knights  Templar,  Nor- 
walk,  Connecticut.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Saugatuck  Congregational  Church, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  church  com- 
mittee. In  1913  Mr.  Lees  purchased  a  site 
in  the  Catskill  mountains  where  he  built 
a  summer  home  and  spends  part  of  each 
summer  with  his  family. 

Mr.  Lees  married  Margaret  J.  Sniffen, 
daughter  of  Joseph  M.  Sniffen,  of  West- 
port,  Connecticut,  and  is  the  father  of  two 
children:  Ruth  A.,  born  September  1, 
1899,  and  John  A.,  Jr.,  born  September 
28,  1905. 


WOOD,  Walter  C, 

Surgeon.   Farmer. 

Success  in  the  healing  art  is  usually  at- 
tended with  material  reward,  but  such  a 
reward  is  an  incident  and  not  the  goal  of 
the  right-minded  physician.  In  his  devo- 
tion to  relieving  the  ills  of  humanity,  Dr. 
Walter  C.  Wood  won  a  prominent  place 
among  the  surgeons  of  the  East,  but  at  a 
price  little  short  of  his  own  physical  well- 
being.  He  was  compelled  to  give  up  the 
practice  of  the  profession  he  dearly  cher- 
ished and  to  go  back  to  nature  to  regain 
his  health.  He  took  up  agriculture  and 
stock-raising  in  the  same  thorough,  stu- 
dious manner  that  he  had  given  his  pro- 
fession,   with    the    result    that    he    has 


achieved  notable  success  in  his  new  voca- 
tion and  restored  his  health  besides. 

(I)  Jonathan  Wood,  one  of  Dr.  Wood's 
early  ancestors,  was  born  in  Ridgefield, 
Connecticut.  He  married  Elizabeth  Mun- 
son,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Dr. 
Ezekiel  Wood,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Dr.  Ezekiel  Wood,  son  of  Jona- 
than and  Elizabeth  (Munson)  Wood,  was 
a  surgeon  in  the  Continental  army,  and 
died  at  West  Point,  in  1781. 

(III)  David  Wood,  son  of  Dr.  Ezekiel 
Wood,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and 
the  Christian  name  of  his  wife  was  Prin- 
cess. 

(IV)  Asahel  Wood,  son  of  David  and 
Princess  Wood,  was  born  in  Westhamp- 
ton,  in  1796,  and  died  in  Northampton,  in 
1876.  For  many  years  he  ran  a  section 
of  the  stage  line  between  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Albany,  New  York.  He 
married  Louisa  Clapp,  born  in  1796,  died 
in  1880,  daughter  of  George  and  Abigail 
(Burt)  Clapp.  On  the  maternal  side  Mrs. 
Wood  descended  from  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  and  also 
from  Henry  Burt,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  England  in  1633 ;  in  1640  he  was 
settled  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  died  in  1662.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Asahel  Wood  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  George  Clapp;  Aus- 
tin, of  Syracuse ;  Andrew  Spencer,  of 
further  mention ;  Cornelius  Delano,  of 
Brooklyn ;  Maria,  wife  of  Lyman  N. 
Clark,  for  many  years  editor  of  the  New 
York  Times  "News  Letter,"  now  residing 
in  Westfield,  Massachusetts ;  and  Asahel 
Frank,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

(V)  Andrew  Spencer  Wood,  son  of 
Asahel  and  Louisa  (Clapp)  Wood,  and 
father  of  Dr.  Wood,  was  born  in  1825,  in 
Northampton,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
died  in  1881.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  learned  the  drug  busi- 

103 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ness.  For  some  time  he  was  engaged  in 
this  business  in  Northampton,  later  going 
to  Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  was  in 
the  wholesale  woodenware  business  for 
seventeen  years,  under  the  name  of  Nel- 
son &  Wood. 

Mr.  Wood  married  (first)  Catherine  N. 
Burnell,  of  Chesterfield,  Massachusetts, 
and  she  died  in  1856.  He  married  (sec- 
ond) Lois  P.  Lyman,  a  daughter  of 
Captain  Otis  Childs,  of  Conway,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  adopted  daughter  of  Asahel 
Lyman.  Andrew  S.  and  Lois  P.  (Ly- 
man) Wood  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  four  of  whom  grew  to  maturity: 
1.  Winthrop  H.,  died  in  infancy.  2. 
Katie,  died  aged  three  years.  3.  Walter 
C,  of  further  mention.  4.  Albert  S.,  died 
while  on  a  business  trip,  and  was  buried 
at  sea.  5.  Clarence  D.,  born  in  1871 ;  he 
died  in  Brooklyn,  unmarried,  in  1901.  6. 
Lyman  P.,  twin  with  Clarence  D. ;  he 
married  Mary  Putney,  of  St.  Johnsbury, 
Vermont,  and  died  in  1919,  in  Atlanta, 
Georgia. 

(VI)  Walter  C.  Wood,  son  of  Andrew 
Spencer  and  Lois  P.  (Lyman)  Wood,  was 
born  August  4,  1864,  m  Northampton, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  educated  at 
Graylock  Institute,  South  Williamstown, 
Massachusetts,  and  at  the  Northampton 
High  School.  He  graduated  from  Am- 
herst in  1886  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts,  and  from  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  of  New  York  City  in 
1889  with  the  degree  of  Medical  Doctor. 
The  subsequent  eighteen  months  were 
spent  in  Bellevue  Hospital,  and  from 
the  beginning  Dr.  Wood  specialized  in 
surgery.  For  a  period  of  twenty  years  he 
practiced  very  successfully  in  Brooklyn, 
New  York.  He  was  surgeon  to  the 
Brooklyn  Hospital  for  fifteen  years,  and 
professor  of  surgery  at  the  Long  Island 
College  Hospital  for  seven  years,  and 
for  twelve  years   surgeon  at  St.   Mary's 


Hospital.  In  the  years  Dr.  Wood  spent 
in  the  work  of  his  profession,  he  furnished 
an  exemplification  of  the  highest  virtues 
of  his  calling,  his  career  being  one  of 
ability  and  usefulness.  Dr.  Wood's  health 
became  undermined  and  he  retired  from 
his  practice  on  this  account  about  six 
years  ago.  Previous  to  this  time  he  had 
purchased  a  summer  home  at  New  Ca- 
naan, Connecticut,  and  after  his  retire- 
ment he  purchased  what  was  known  as 
the  old  Jones  Farm  on  High  Ridge  road  in 
North  Stamford,  adjoining  the  town  of 
New  Canaan.  It  is  in  the  development 
of  this  farm  that  Dr.  Wood  has  engaged 
to  regain  his  health.  He  has  about  three 
hundred  acres  of  land,  and  specializes  in 
hogs  and  cattle.  He  has  between  fifty  and 
sixty  Holsteins,  all  registered  or  eligible 
to  registration,  and  produces  about  eight 
thousand  quarts  of  milk  annually,  which 
is  sold  at  wholesale.  His  hogs  are  Berk- 
shires,  and  large  general  farm  crops  are 
raised   for  consumption  on  the  farm. 

Dr.  Wood  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  while  actively  interested  in  all  public 
measures  does  not  seek  to  hold  office. 
He  is  a  member  of  Alpha  Delta  Phi  fra- 
ternity; of  the  New  York  Academy  of 
Medicine ;  the  American  Medical  Associ- 
ation;  the  New  York  Surgical  Society; 
the  Brooklyn  Surgical  Society,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Connecticut  State  Farm  Bu- 
reau Federation. 

Dr.  Wood  married  Ellen  Davis,  daugh- 
ter of  Theodore  R.  and  Maria  E.  (Hale) 
Davis,  the  former  of  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, and  Brooklyn,  New  York.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Wood  were  the  parents  of  a 
daughter,  Eleanor  Childs,  and  she  mar- 
ried Raymond  L.  Thompson,  of  Hartford, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Harriet.  With  his 
wife,  Dr.  Wood  attends  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  New  Canaan,  of  which 
he  is  also  a  trustee. 
104 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


BISHOP,  Hubert  E., 

Public-Spirited  Citizen. 

The  name  of  Bishop  belongs  to  a  class 
of  names  the  origin  of  which  is  most  in- 
teresting. Writers  on  the  subject  of  pa- 
tronymics usually  dispose  of  it  briefly 
by  saying  that  Bishop  is  one  of  those 
names  derived  from  office,  rank  or  posi- 
tion ;  but  this  does  not  explain  how  bish- 
ops who  in  England  were  celibate  in  the 
centuries  following  the  Norman  Conquest 
could  pass  on  the  designation  of  their  ec- 
clesiastical rank  as  family  names  to 
descendants.  In  those  early  times  the 
masses  were  illiterate.  They  were  in- 
structed or  entertained  by  plays  which 
must  necessarily  deal  with  subjects 
within  the  purview  of  their  knowledge ; 
hence  the  themes  of  their  plays  were 
usually  political  or  religious  ;  the  Passion 
play  is  a  survivor  of  that  type.  The  char- 
acters in  the  plays  represented  dignitaries 
of  the  church  or  State  and  the  men  who 
played  the  various  roles  became  known  in 
every-day  life  among  their  village  friends 
as  Bishop,  Priest,  King,  and  so  forth.  In 
course  of  time,  as  surnames  were  being 
adopted,  it  was  quite  natural  for  families 
to  assume  as  their  surnames  the  title  of 
the  part  in  the  folk-play  acted  by  the  head 
of  each  family. 

The  progenitor  of  the  Connecticut  fam- 
ily of  Bishop  was  John  Bishop,  born  in 
England  about  1600.  He  was  one  of  the 
twenty-five  immigrants  who  come  with 
Rev.  Henry  Whitfield's  company  from 
England  and  founded  Guilford,  Connecti- 
cut, and  his  name  was  signed  second  to 
the  Plantation  Covenant  made  on  ship- 
board, June  1,  1639. 

(I)  Benjamin  Bishop,  the  first  known 
of  the  family  of  Hubert  E.  Bishop,  was 
born  in  Fairfield  county,  Connecticut,  and 
passed  his  life  in  the  town  of  Norwalk, 
where    he    followed    the    occupation    of 


blacksmith.  He  married  Mary  Camp, 
born  September  10,  1775,  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Rhoda  (Keeler)  Camp.  His 
father  was  Captain  Jonathan  Camp, 
born  December  17,  1712,  died  August 
20,  1768.  He  married  Ann  Piatt,  born 
in  1710,  died  November  5,  1749,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  Hester  Piatt,  and 
a  descendant  of  Richard  Piatt,  who 
came  to  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  in  1638. 
The  father  of  Jonathan  Camp  was  Samuel 
Camp,  who  was  born  September  15,  1655, 
and  his  will  was  made  May  10,  1688.  He 
married,  November  13,  1672,  Hannah 
Betts,  born  November  22,  1652,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Mary  Betts.  Thomas 
Betts  was  born  in  England  in  1615-16,  and 
was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Guil- 
ford. He  located  in  Norwalk  in  1660,  and 
his  will  was  executed,  May  10,  1688. 
Samuel  Camp  was  a  son  of  the  immigrant, 
Nicholas  Camp,  who  married  Sarah 
Beard,  daughter  of  the  Widow  Martha 
Beard,  whose  husband  is  supposed  to 
have  died  on  the  voyage  to  this  country. 
The  first  Nicholas  Camp  lived  in  the  town 
of  Nasing,  County  Essex,  England,  and 
came  to  this  country  with  his  son,  Nich- 
olas Camp,  Jr.  The  latter  married,  in 
1652,  Catherine  Thompson,  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut.  They  were  the  an- 
cestors of  Mary  Camp,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Bishop,  as  above  noted. 
Benjamin  Bishop  was  "raised"  in  St. 
John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Norwalk,  in  1809. 

(II)  George  Galpin  Bishop,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Mary  (Camp)  Bishop,  was 
born  in  Ridgefield,  Connecticut,  in  1803, 
and  died  August  10,  1888.  During  his 
youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  hatter, 
which  he  followed  for  some  years.  He 
was  very  observant  in  the  methods  of 
making  hats,  and  before  he  had  been 
many  years  in  the  business,  invented  a 
process  for  making  what  was  known  as 


105 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


felt  cloth.  He  formed  a  company  for  the 
manufacture  of  the  product,  and  in  1838 
the  company  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  Union  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. This  company  had  the  unique  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  company  in- 
corporated in  the  State,  and  it  was  neces- 
sary to  pass  a  special  law  to  authorize  it. 
The  coming  on  of  the  Civil  War  at  this 
time  brought  a  great  many  new  companies 
into  existence,  owing  to  the  demands  for 
blankets  and  other  woolen  goods,  and  nat- 
urally, a  large  amount  of  "shoddy  goods" 
were  manufactured.  It  was  impossible 
to  compete  with  the  low  prices  and  as  a 
result  Mr.  Bishop's  company  began  the 
manufacture  of  thread  goods.  This  was 
a  successful  and  profitable  business  until 
the  passing  of  the  Wilson  Tariff  Bill 
which  took  away  the  profit  on  woolen 
goods.  Soon  after  this  time  Mr.  Bishop 
retired  from  active  business.  He  was 
among  the  most  beloved  citizens  of  Nor- 
walk,  and  at  his  death  was  sincerely 
mourned.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  was  ever  willing  to  give  of  his  time 
or  finances  to  the  furthering  of  any  move- 
ment for  the  general  welfare.  He  mar- 
ried Julia  A.  Taylor,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Taylor,  and  she  died  June  6,  1850. 

(Ill)  Adolphus  Fitch  Bishop,  son  of 
George  Galpin  and  Julia  A.  (Taylor) 
Bishop, was  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecti- 
cut, and  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
Early  in  life  he  entered  the  Bishop  Felt 
Mills  and  learned  the  business  in  every 
detail.  He  mastered  all  of  the  processes 
and  for  some  time  was  superintendent 
of  the  company,  later  becoming  president, 
which  office  he  held  as  long  as  he  lived. 
He  was  a  director  of  the  National  Bank 
of  Norwalk.  Mr.  Bishop  married  Julia 
Carter,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  two 
sons:  William  Marcus,  deceased;  Hubert 
E.,  of  further  mention.     The  family  at- 


tended St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  of 
Norwalk. 

(IV)  Hubert  E.  Bishop,  son  of  Adol- 
phus Fitch  and  Julia  (Carter)  Bishop, 
was  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  March 
8,  1869.  He  was  educated  in  Dr.  Sel- 
leck's  school  and  also  attended  a  school 
conducted  by  his  uncle,  Alexander  John- 
ston, afterwards  a  member  of  the  faculty 
in  Princeton  College.  Mr.  Bishop  com- 
pleted his  formal  education  in  Williston 
Seminary  in  East  Hampton,  Massachu- 
setts, and  then  spent  several  years  in 
travel.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in 
Great  Britain.  Europe  and  Africa  as  well 
as  in  this  country.  In  1904,  Mr.  Bishop 
formed  a  partnership  with  Samuel  Lynes, 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work,  under  the  firm  name  of  Bishop 
&  Lynes,  to  engage  in  the  coal  and  wood 
business  and  mason's  supplies.  They  are 
among  the  prominent  business  men  of 
Norwalk.  Mr.  Bishop  is  a  life  member 
of  the  Norwalk  Hospital  and  a  director 
of  that  institution.  He  gave  the  land  on 
which  the  Carnegie  Library  stands,  and 
this  is  but  one  of  the  instances  which 
prove  his  public-spiritedness. 

Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons ;  Washington  Chapter, 
Royal  Arch  Masons ;  Clinton  Comman- 
dery,  No.  3,  Knights  Templar ;  Lafayette 
Consistory,  Sublime  Princes  of  the  Royal 
Secret;  and  Pyramid  Temple,  Ancient 
Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  For  fourteen  years  Mr.  Bishop 
served  as  secretary  and  is  still  a  director 
of  the  Public  Library.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Norwalk  Club,  the  Norwalk  Coun- 
try Club,  the  Woodway  Country  Club,  the 
Westport  Country  Club,  and  golf  and 
travel  are  his  principal  recreations.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  1914 
was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  serv- 


106 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ing  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  mil- 
itary affairs. 

Mr.  Bishop  married,  in  1903,  Alice  Bart- 
lett  Cram,  daughter  of  George  W.  Cram, 
and  the  Cram  genealogy  appears  in  con- 
nection with  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Bishop's 
brother-in-law,  Dr.  George  E.  Cram,  of 
Norwalk. 


KEMPER,  Charles  H., 

Manufacturer,  Public  Official. 

Closely  identified  with  the  leather  in- 
terests of  Connecticut,  and  justly  ranked 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  Westport, 
Charles  H.  Kemper  was  born  there  May 
7,  1865. 

(I)  John  Kemper,  the  first  of  the  line 
herein  followed,  was  born  in  Holland. 
He  came  to  New  York  City  in  his  early 
life,  and  enlisted  at  about  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  received  a  pension  for  his  serv- 
ices. It  is  here  interesting  to  note  the 
origin  of  the  name  of  Kemper,  which  is 
from  the  old  English,  meaning  a  soldier. 
It  is  derived  from  the  Saxon,  to  kemp,  or 
combat.  In  many  places  in  England  this 
name  is  retained  in  its  original  form  even 
to  the  present  time,  and  a  football  match 
is  spoken  of  as  a  kemping,  and  thus  in 
the  Saxon,  a  Kemper  signifies  a  combat- 
ant, a  champion,  a  man-at-arms.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  record  of  the  military  services 
of  John  Kemper:  From  August,  1777,  to 
the  spring  of  1779,  he  was  wagon  master 
under  Captain  James  Mearrs  Clothier, 
general  of  the  army;  in  May,  1779,  he  en- 
listed for  six  months  as  first  midshipman 
under  Captain  Montgomery  on  the  ship, 
"General  Greene."  In  the  spring  of  1780 
he  enlisted  for  six  months  as  midshipman 
with  Captain  Stephen  Decatur  on  the 
brig,  "Fair  America,"  and  in  the  spring 
of  1781  he  enlisted  for  six  months  as  mid- 
shipman under  Captain  James  Stover  on 


the  brig,  "Hector."  He  was  captured  by 
the  British  ship,  "Iris,"  and  imprisoned  in 
New  York  and  in  Mill  Prison,  England, 
until  the  spring  of  1782.  In  that  year  he 
escaped  and  obtained  passage  to  the  West 
Indies,  finally  arriving  in  Philadelphia  in 
November,  1782.  After  the  war,  he  set- 
tled in  Hudson,  New  York,  where  he  died 
August  11,  1842,  in  the  ninety-third  year 
of  his  age.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ann 
Hopper,  and  their  children  were :  Sophia, 
married  a  Mr.  Willard ;  Daniel,  married 
Elizabeth  Van  Valkenburg;  Charles  Mor- 
ton, of  whom  further;  John,  married  Eliza 

;  Jane,  married  Samuel  Crossman; 

Elizabeth,  married   Samuel  Mason. 

(II)  Charles  Morton  Kemper,  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Ann  (Hopper)  Kem- 
per, was  born  in  1791,  and  died  in  1868. 
He  was  a  very  prominent  business  man 
of  Hudson,  New  York,  where  he  had  a 
slaughter  house  and  a  candle  and  soap 
factory.  His  last  years  were  spent  in 
Westport  with  his  son,  Charles  H.  Kem- 
per. Charles  M.  Kemper  married  Cather- 
ine Maxwell,  daughter  of  Anthony  Max- 
well. She  died  in  183 1,  aged  thirty-four 
years. 

Anthony  Maxwell,  father  of  Catherine 
(Maxwell)  Kemper,  was  born  in  Scot- 
land, December  12,  1754,  and  died  in  Hud- 
son, New  York,  May  24,  1825.  He  was 
about  seven  years  old  when  his  father, 
William  Maxwell,  and  his  wife,  brought 
their  family  to  America.  They  located 
first  in  New  York  City.  William  Max- 
well was  the  younger  scion  of  a  noble 
family.  He  enlisted  in  1777;  was  made 
sergeant,  May  1,  1777,  and  the  following 
July  was  made  ensign.  On  February  28, 
1778,  he  was  commissioned  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  on  April  24,  1779,  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  the  same  year  received  his 
commission  of  captain.  He  also  served 
in  Captain  John  Sanford's  company,  Gen- 
eral Malcolm's  regiment,  one  of  the  six- 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


teen  regiments  in  the  Continental  service 
officered  by  General  Washington,  and  not 
belonging  to  the  line  of  any  particular 
State  and  credited  to  New  York.  An- 
thony Maxwell  married  Eva  Platner, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Katharine  (Best) 
Platner.  Henry  Platner  was  born  in  Hol- 
land in  1731,  and  died  in  1804.  He  com- 
manded a  company  in  the  militia  of  Al- 
bany, New  York,  and  in  May,  1775,  the 
company  was  enlisted  for  the  defense  of 
the  Colony.  On  February  25,  1778, 
Henry  Platner  was  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

(Ill)  Charles  Henry  Kemper,  son  of 
Charles  Morton  and  Catherine  (Maxwell) 
Kemper,  was  born  in  Hudson,  New  York, 
July  22,  1817,  and  died  October  22,  1896, 
in  Westport,  Connecticut.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  apprenticed  himself  to  a  man 
named  Pinkham  in  Hudson,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  sailmaker.  In  1835  he  acci- 
dentally shot  his  right  hand  through  the 
palm  and  this  made  it  impossible  for  him 
to  use  the  sailmaker's  "palm"  and  he  had 
to  give  up  his  trade.  The  same  year  he 
located  in  Westport,  Connecticut,  and 
learned  the  leather  business  with  his 
uncle,  Daniel  Kemper,  who  was  already 
in  business  there  as  a  tanner.  The  factory 
of  which  Daniel  Kemper  was  the  man- 
ager, was  built  in  1835  by  R.  &  H.  Haight, 
of  New  York,  and  in  1855  was  sold  to 
Charles  H.  Kemper.  The  latter  estab- 
lished the  business  of  which  his  son  is 
now  the  head,  and  made  a  specialty  of 
fancy  leather  for  hatters.  A  large  and 
very  successful  business  was  built  up,  and 
Mr.  Kemper  continued  active  in  its  man- 
agement until  his  death. 

Mr.  Kemper  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  for  two  terms  represented  his  party 
in  the  State  Legislature.  Mr.  Kemper 
also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Selectmen  for  several  years,  and  was 
among:   the    useful    citizens   of   his   com- 


munity. He  was  a  leader  among  the  Uni- 
versalists  in  a  day  less  tolerant  than  the 
present  in  religious  matters  and  when  it 
required  a  good  deal  of  courage  to  espouse 
a  denomination  then  so  unpopular. 

Mr.  Kemper  married  Caroline  Matilda 
Smith,  daughter  of  Cornell  Smith,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

(IV)  Charles  H.  Kemper,  son  of 
Charles  Henry  and  Caroline  Matilda 
(Smith)  Kemper,  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  in  a  private  academy. 
When  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  he 
took  a  position  teaching  school,  contin- 
uing for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  entered  the  factory  of  his  father 
to  learn  in  detail  the  practical  side  of 
leather  making.  In  1893  the  old  plant 
was  sold  and  the  present  one  on  River- 
side avenue  purchased.  The  product  is 
still  fancy  leathers,  but  in  variety  the 
product  has  broadened  greatly  beyond  the 
lines  made  for  hatters,  including  hatters 
leathers  which  are  sold  direct  to  the  hat- 
ting trade.  They  also  make  lines  for  fine 
book  binding  and  so  forth.  A  representa- 
tive is  maintained  in  New  York  and  also 
in  Chicago  with  a  salesroom.  In  1913  the 
business  was  incorporated  under  the  name 
of  The  Charles  H.  Kemper  Company, 
with  Mr.  Kemper  as  president,  and  his 
son,  Charles  M.  Kemper,  as  treasurer, 
and  John  A.  Kimber  as  secretary.  It  is 
the  oldest  business  of  its  kind  in  the 
United  States  and  one  hundred  or  more 
are  employed.  Mr.  Kemper  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Westport  School  Board 
for  twelve  years,  and  in  many  other  ways 
is  active  in  the  public  life  of  Westport. 

Mr.  Kemper  married  Carrie  Louise 
Gray,  daughter  of  David  and  Louisa 
(Burwell)  Gray,  of  Westport,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  four  children:  1.  Car- 
rie Louise,  married  W.  F.  Osborne,  of 
Westport.  2.  Edith,  married  John  A. 
Kimber,  of  Westport,  and  has  four  sons, 


108 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Burwell,  Nelson,  Donald  and  Harry.  3. 
Emma  S.,  married  W.  Sterling  Atwater, 
and  is  the  mother  of  two  sons,  Sterling 
and  Kemper.  4.  Charles  Maxwell,  born 
October  16,  1889,  was  educated  in  the 
Chase  School,  Norwalk,  and  in  the  Ste- 
vens Institute  of  Technology,  Hoboken, 
New  Jersey,  and  since  his  formal  educa- 
tion was  completed  has  been  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  business;  he  mar- 
ried Helen  Prentice,  and  has  two  children, 
Doris  and  Charles.  The  family  are  at- 
tendants of  the  Episcopal  church,  of 
Westport,  and  aid  in  its  support. 


MILLS,  John  Archer, 

Business  Man. 

One  of  the  oldest  names  to  be  found  in 
the  history  of  the  American  colonies  is 
that  of  Mills ;  it  is  found  scattered 
throughout  Maine  and  Connecticut. 
There  have  been  many  prominent  men 
bearing  this  name,  among  whom  are: 
Clark  Mills,  the  sculptor  of  the  statue  of 
General  Jackson,  and  Darius  O.  Mills,  the 
philanthropist.  The  family  of  John 
Archer  Mills  was  early  settled  in  Con- 
necticut. His  grandfather,  William  H. 
Mills,  lived  in  that  part  of  Norwalk  called 
Broad  River.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Archer,  daughter  of  James 
Archer.  The  latter  was  born  in  England, 
and  married  Sarah  Newcomb,  daughter 
of  Eleazer  and  Anna  (McGuire)  New- 
comb,  born  about  1788.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mills  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
one  of  them,  Daniel  A.,  of  whom  further. 

Daniel  A.  Mills,  second  son  of  William 
H.  and  Elizabeth  (Archer)  Mills,  was 
born  in  Norwalk,  December  25,  1842,  and 
died  April  12,  1891.  He  attended  the 
common  schools,  then  learned  the  trade 
of  stationary  engineer,  which  he  followed 
in  New  York  City  for  many  years,  and 
during  this   time   made  his  home  there. 


He  returned  to  Norwalk  in  the  spring  of 
1887,  and  after  this  time  was  practically 
retired  from  active  business.  Mr.  Mills 
was  a  member  of  the  old  Volunteer  Fire 
Department,  and  received  a  medal  for 
thirteen  years  continuous  service  without 
missing  a  call,  a  truly  remarkable  record. 
He  married  Sarah  A.  Little,  daughter  of 
John  Little,  of  Leeds,  England,  born  Au- 
gust 3,  1844,  died  July  31,  1920.  John 
Little  was  born  November  21,  1799,  and 
died  March  21,  1875.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  tailor  and  followed  it  in  England 
until  1848.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  two  years  later  was  followed  by 
his  second  wife  and  five  children,  his 
oldest  son,  John,  having  come  with  him, 
locating  in  New  York  City.  There  the 
father  followed  his  trade  until  1862,  in 
which  year  he  went  to  Hastings-on-the- 
Hudson.  About  1864  he  came  to  Nor- 
walk, and  for  a  time  followed  his  trade, 
until  he  went  to  work  in  Bishop's  Mill. 
He  married  for  his  second  wife,  Mary 
Nicholson,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Hannah 
Nicholson,  an  English  woman.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Daniel  A.  Mills  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity, as  follows:  1.  Eliza,  married 
Harry  A.  Hendrick,  of  Norwalk;  she  died 
March  12,  1921.  2.  Mary  B.,  married 
Joseph  H.  Cable,  of  Norwalk.  3.  George 
B.,  of  South  Norwalk.  4.  John  Archer, 
of  further  mention.  5.  Sarah  R.,  married 
Frederick  Ridell,  of  Norwalk.  6.  William 
H.,  of  Norwalk. 

John  Archer  Mills,  fourth  child  of  Dan- 
iel A.  and  Sarah  A.  (Little)  Mills,  was 
born  in  Norwalk,  August  24,  1877.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was 
thirteen  years  old  and  then  went  to  work 
in  the  shoe  department  of  Lounsbury  & 
Mathewson.  For  seventeen  years  Mr. 
Mills  gave  his  attention  to  this  business, 
most  of  the  time  being  located  in  New 
York  City  and  Brooklyn.     Such  persist- 


IOQ 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ency  must  surely  bring  its  reward,  and 
Mr.  Mills  received  part  of  his  when  he 
was  placed  in  charge  of  a  plant  in  New 
York  City.  Sometimes  a  radical  change 
gives  a  man  an  opportunity  to  realize 
whether  or  not  he  has  chosen  the  occu- 
pation most  suited  to  him,  and  in  1909 
such  a  change  came  to  Mr.  Mills.  He  re- 
ceived his  start  by  taking  a  position  as 
chauffeur  for  four  years,  from  1909  until 
the  latter  part  of  1912.  During  this  time 
he  learned  all  about  cars  in  general,  and 
so  well  did  the  work  appeal  to  him  that 
he  started  in  the  garage  business  on  his 
own  account  in  1912.  After  two  years 
Mr.  Mills  gave  up  the  garage  part  of  the 
business  and  opened  an  auto  supply  store 
on  Wall  street,  Norwalk,  handling  a  gen- 
eral line  of  supplies ;  the  business  is 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Nor- 
walk Supply  Shop,  and  Mr.  Mills  is 
president  and  treasurer.  In  1920  he  added 
a  general  line  of  hardware,  paints,  and 
oils  to  his  stock  of  auto  supplies,  and  this 
branch  of  the  business  has  developed  in 
prosperous  manner. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mills  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican town  and  city  committees  for 
some  years.  He  has  also  been  a  delegate 
to  State  conventions,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  several 
terms.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  Norwalk ;  Washington  Chap- 
ter, No.  24,  Royal  Arch  Masons ;  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men ;  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the 
Norwalk  Club.  Mr.  Mills  is  essentially 
what  has  been  aptly  termed  a  self-made 
man.  Early  in  youth,  with  few  advan- 
tages, he  began  to  make  his  own  way,  and 
his  courage,  energy,  and  determination 
have  won  for  him  a  success  wholly  com- 
mendable. With  material  prosperity  has 
come  that  which  is  more  difficult  by  far 


to  acquire,  high  standing  in  his  commun- 
ity, and  an  honored  place  in  the  regard 
of  his  fellow-citizens. 

Mr.  Mills  married  Sarah  Louise  Hod- 
getts,  daughter  of  Charles  A.  and  Sarah 
Louise  (Hodgetts)  Hodgetts.  Mr.  Hod- 
getts  was  born  in  Dudley,  England,  while 
his  wife  was  born  in  New  York  City  of 
English  parents. 


WILLSON,  Thomas  G., 

Member  of  Important  Family. 

Before  surnames  were  universally 
adopted,  that  is  about  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, there  were  many  and  varied  ways 
in  designating  members  of  a  family  in 
order  to  distinguish  them.  One  of  the 
most  common  was  to  give  a  family  a 
name  similar  to  the  location  of  their  home, 
as  At-Wood,  near  a  wood.  Another  way 
was  to  refer  to  the  son  in  the  possessive 
case,  as  John's  son  and  Will's  son,  using 
the  Christian  name  of  the  father.  It  is 
in  this  latter  class  that  the  name  of  Will- 
son  belongs,  being  derived  from  the 
Christian  name  Will  and  son.  Many  fam- 
ilies retained  but  one  "1,"  and  this  fact 
has  made  it  very  difficult  for  the  genea- 
logist and  the  historian  to  distinguish 
between  descendants  of  the  name. 

(I)  The  Willson  family  herein  under 
consideration  were  early  settled  in  Rhode 
Island.  John  Willson  was  born  in  1650, 
and  died  in  1725.  He  married,  before 
November,  1671,  Mary  Lyon,  born  in 
August,  1649,  m  Stamford,  and  died  in 
1713.  This  John  Willson  was  in  Bedford 
and  Rye,  New  York,  at  different  times. 
He  was  the  father  of  Samuel  Willson,  of 
whom  further. 

(II)  Samuel  Willson,  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Lyon)  Willson,  was  born  in  1678. 
He  came  from  Rhode  Island  in  or  pre- 
vious to  the  year  1710,  settled  at  Rye,  and 
operated  a  ferry  between  Rye  and  Oyster 


no 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Bay.  He  married  Susannah  Ogden, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susannah  Ogden, 
and  she  died  in  1770. 

(III)  Samuel  (2)  Willson,  son  of  Sam- 
uel (1)  and  Susannah  (Ogden)  Willson, 
was  born  in  1708,  and  died  July  2,  1756. 
He  married  Phebe  Lyon,  and  she  died 
January  29,  1770.  Before  the  war  Sam- 
uel Willson  removed  to  Somers. 

(IV)  Jotham  Willson,  son  of  Samuel 
(2)  and  Phebe  (Lyon)  Willson,  was  born 
in  1746,  and  died  November  18,  181 1.  He 
married  Mary  Brundage,  daughter  of 
James  Brundage,  who  was  born  in  1754, 
and  died  October  31,  1800.  They  were 
the  parents  of  Jotham  (2)  Willson,  of 
whom  further. 

(V)  Jotham  (2)  Willson,  son  of  Jo- 
tham (1)  and  Mary  (Brundage)  Willson, 
was  born  February  2,  1774,  and  died  Oc- 
tober 28,  1828.  He  married  Sarah  Green, 
born  in  June,  1777,  died  August  1,  1865, 
daughter  of  James  and  Martha  Green. 

(VI)  James  Willson,  son  of  Jotham 
(2)  and  Sarah  (Green)  Willson,  was  born 
October  29,  1802,  and  died  November  5, 
1878.  He  lived  in  Port  Chester,  New 
York,  and  surrounding  territory.  He 
married,  February  21,  1828,  Sarah  Green, 
born  December  28,  1796,  died  March  5, 
i860,  daughter  of  Joseph  Green.  Joseph 
Green  was  born  February  14,  1768,  and 
died  December  31,  1836.  He  married, 
December  25,  1790,  Elizabeth  Merritt, 
born  March  22,  1775,  and  died  April  12, 
1843,  daughter  of  Daniel  Merritt. 

(VII)  Thomas  Green  Willson,  son  of 
James  and  Sarah  (Green)  Willson,  was 
born  at  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  Febru- 
ary 21,  1836,  and  died  November  26,  1896. 
He  spent  his  early  life  on  the  home  farm 
in  Port  Chester,  and  subsequent  to  his 
marriage  bought  a  farm  across  the  road 
from  the  homestead,  which  is  now  owned 
by  the  Blind  Brook  Golf  Club.  Mr.  Will- 
son  followed  farming  all  of  his  life  and 


always  took  an  active  interest  in  civic 
affairs  of  his  community.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and  served  as  highway 
commissioner  of  the  town  of  Rye  for 
eighteen  years.  He  was  also  a  delegate 
to  several  conventions. 

Mr.  Willson  married,  February  23, 
1857,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Smith,  daughter  of 
Josiah  Smith,  of  Stamford.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Willson  were  the  parents  of  five  children: 
1.  James  Green,  a  sketch  of  whom  fol- 
lows. 2.  George  Dudley,  who  is  de- 
ceased. 3.  Jeannie,  born  September  8, 
1863;  married  Freeman  H.  Merritt.  4. 
Francis  Finley,  born  September  12,  1867, 
deceased.  5.  William  Jay,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere.  The  Willson 
family  have  long  been  members  of  the 
Episcopal  church. 

(The  Smith  Line). 

(I)  Henry  Smith,  the  immigrant  ances- 
tor of  the  family,  was  born  in  England,  in 
1619,  and  was  early  settled  in  Stamford, 
where  he  died.  The  name  of  his  first  wife 
is  not  on  record,  but  she  was  the  mother 
of  all  his  children. 

(II)  Daniel  Smith,  son  of  Henry 
Smith,  was  born  in  1648,  and  died  March 
3,  1740.  He  married  Hannah  Close 
Knapp,  born  March  26,  1660,  died  March 
29,   1721. 

(III)  Joseph  Smith,  son  of  Daniel  and 
Hannah  Close  (Knapp)  Smith,  was  born 
in  the  1600's,  died  March  12,  1755.  He 
married  Mary  Cornell,  and  their  son  was 
Amos  Smith,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Amos  Smith,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Cornell)  Smith,  was  born  October 
17,  1716,  and  died  in  1765.  He  married 
Sarah  Blackman,  who  died  in  1772.  They 
were  the  parents  of  Lieutenant  Josiah 
Smith,  of  whom  further. 

(V)  Lieutenant  Josiah  Smith,  son  of 
Amos  and  Sarah  (Blackman)  Smith,  was 
born  July  23,  1750,  and  died  November  29, 


in 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1830.  He  married  Sarah  Reynolds,  born 
February  8,  1762,  and  died  August  31, 
1849.  They  were  the  parents  of  Josiah 
Smith,  who  was  born  June  20,  1803,  and 
died  February  10,  1878.  He  married, 
September  22,  1830,  Betsey  Lockwood, 
who  was  born  May  2,  1813,  died  March 
4,  1855.  Their  daughter,  Sarah  Elizabeth 
Smith,  married  Thomas  Green  Willson 
(q.  v.). 


WILLSON,  James  Green, 

Business  Man,  Public  Official. 

James  Green  Willson,  son  of  Thomas 
Green  and  Sarah  E.  (Smith)  Willson 
(q.  v.),  was  born  October  23,  1858,  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  town  of  Rye, 
New  York.  There  he  went  to  school, 
and  also  attended  the  Smith  Institute,  at 
Port  Chester,  New  York.  He  remained 
on  the  home  farm  until  1882,  and  then 
moved  to  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  where 
he  located  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  on  the  Round  Hill  road,  and 
engaged  in  general  farming.  He  still  re- 
sides on  this  farm,  although  outside  in- 
terests take  up  the  major  portion  of  his 
time.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Maher 
Brothers  Corporation,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  its  board  of  directors  since 
1907. 

Mr.  Willson  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  has  several  times  been  honored  with 
positions  of  public  trust  and  responsibil- 
ity. In  1898  he  was  elected  first  select- 
man of  the  town  of  Greenwich,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  office  for  eight  consecutive 
years.  During  his  term  of  office  there 
were  many  thorough  investigations  of 
public  affairs  made.  He  was  instrumen- 
tal in  the  removal  of  the  almshouse  from 
Round  Hill  to  Parsonage  road,  which  was 
the  result  of  a  strenuous  fight.  During 
this  same  time  the  town  hall  was  pre- 
sented to  the  town  of  Greenwich  by  the 


late  Robert  M.  Bruce,  and  Mr.  Willson 
had  the  privilege  and  the  honor  of  making 
the  speech  of  acceptance  on  behalf  of  the 
town.  He  has  since  served  a  number  of 
terms  on  the  Town  School  Committee. 
Mr.  Willson  is  a  member  of  Acacia 
Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ;  and 
of  Rittenhouse  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
sons. 

Mr.  Willson  married  Harriet  Husted, 
daughter  of  Mills  Hobby  Husted,  of 
Greenwich,  and  their  children  are:  1. 
Henrietta,  born  in  Greenwich,  married 
Fred  J.  Ferguson,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  one  daughter,  Jean,  now  deceased. 
2.  Mabel,  wife  of  Max  J.  C.  Leuchs,  and 
they  have  two  children :  Augusta,  and 
John  James.  3.  Josephine  Clark,  wife  of 
Dr.  B.  J.  Sands,  and  the  mother  of  three 
daughters :  Esther,  Josephine,  and  Doro- 
thy. 4.  Marie  G.  5.  James  Green,  Jr., 
who  served  during  the  late  World  War. 
6.  Hawley  Griswold.  Mr.  Willson  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church. 


WILLSON,  WiUiam  Jay, 

In  Public  Utility  Service. 

William  Jay  Willson,  son  of  Thomas 
Green  and  Sarah  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Will- 
son  (q.  v.),  was  born  in  Port  Chester, 
Rye  township,  New  York,  February  19, 
1873.  Ete  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  in  1889 
engaged  in  his  first  work  in  the  business 
world.  In  that  year  the  water-works  were 
being  installed  in  Tarrytown,  New  York, 
and  Mr.  Willson  entered  the  employ  of 
John  O.  Merritt,  superintendent  of  con- 
struction. He  has  been  identified  with 
this  line  of  work  to  the  present  time,  and 
has  at  different  times  been  located  in 
White  Plains  and  Greenwich.  In  the 
latter  city  he  became  superintendent  of 
the  Greenwich  Water  Company,  in  1906, 


112 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


and  the  following  year  accepted  a  similar 
position  in  addition  from  the  Port  Chester 
Water  Company.  He  has  attained  suc- 
cess in  his  chosen  field,  and  has  been  more 
fortunate  than  most  men  for  the  reason 
that  since  accepting  his  first  position  he 
has  followed  similar  lines. 

Mr.  Willson  is  a  Republican,  and  takes 
more  than  a  passive  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs. Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of 
Acacia  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, of  Greenwich. 

Mr.  Willson  married  (first)  July  23, 
1902,  Victoria  D.  Sublett,  of  Petersburg, 
Virginia,  who  died  June  12,  191 1.  He 
married  (second)  Florence  L.  Close,  born 
September  12,  1886,  daughter  of  Peter 
Voorhis  and  Anna  Sutherland  (Thomas) 
Close  (see  Close  line). 

(The  Close  Line). 

The  name  Close  is  of  agricultural  ori- 
gin, though  intimately  associated  with  ec- 
clesiastical usage,  in  which  it  is  applied 
specifically  to  denote  the  precinct  of  a 
Cathedral  or  Abbey.  Lower's  "Patrony- 
mica  Brittanica"  defines  it  as  follows: 
"Close,  any  piece  of  ground  that  is  en- 
closed with  hedge,  wall  or  water."  The 
word  is  from  the  Latin  clausus,  past  par- 
ticiple of  clando,  and  meaning  closed,  en- 
closed, surrounded.  The  spelling  of  the 
name  has  varied  with  the  custom  of  the 
times  and  the  degree  of  literacy  of  its 
writers,  Cloos,  Closse,  Closs,  Clos,  Clusse, 
Cluss,  being  various  renderings  of  the 
name  now  used  as  Close. 

According  to  Hotten's  lists  of  emi- 
grants to  America,  Phettyplace  Close 
came  to  Virginia  in  1608,  and  was  granted 
a  patent  of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
the  James  river,  in  the  corporation  of 
Henrico,  in  1626.  In  response  to  an  in- 
quiry as  to  him,  the  secretary  and  li- 
brarian of  the  Virginia  Historical  Society, 
under  date  of  May  29,  1908,  states  that 

Conn— 8— 8  I 


he  has  no  "evidence  to  show  whether 
Phettyplace  Close  (Clause)  left  a  family. 
*  *  *  As  the  name  does  not  appear  here 
later,  I  think  that  he  was  one  of  the  nu- 
merous settlers  who  succumbed  to  disease 
or  was  killed  by  the  Indians."  The  name 
of  Close  in  New  England  first  appears  in 
the  will  of  William  Frost,  of  Fairfield, 
Connecticut,  dated  January  6,  1644,  where 
one  Goodman  Close  is  mentioned  as  hav- 
ing one  of  the  testator's  heifers.  Good- 
man Close  probably  died  at  Fairfield, 
about  1653,  and  left  surviving  him  his 
widow  Elizabeth  and  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Hannah,  Thomas,  Joseph,  and 
Mary.  His  widow  afterwards  married 
George  Stuckey,  had  one  child,  Elizabeth 
Stuckey,  and  died  in  Stamford,  Connecti- 
cut, September  4,  1656.  George  Stuckey 
bought  land  at  Windsor,  Connecticut,  in 
1640,  sold  out  in  1645,  and  later  removed 
to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  with  his  step- 
children. 

According  to  the  records,  the  Close 
family  in  New  England,  in  1660,  consisted 
of  Hannah  Close,  who,  June  9,  1657,  mar- 
ried Joshua  Knapp ;  Thomas  Close,  and 
Mary  Close,  who,  June  26,  1668,  married 
Samuel  Holly.  A  search  of  the  parish 
registers  for  County  York,  England, 
seems  to  indicate  that  Goodman  Close 
was  born  in  Grinton  parish,  where  the 
family  attained  considerable  prominence 
about  1606,  came  to  America  about  1642, 
and  finally  settled  in  Fairfield,  Connecti- 
cut, where  he  died.  He  and  his  wife 
Elizabeth  had  children :  Hannah,  born 
about  1632;  Joseph,  born  about  1634; 
Thomas,  of  whom  further ;  Mary,  born 
about  1640. 

Thomas  Close,  son  of  Goodman  Close, 
was  born  about  1637,  and  died  in  Green- 
wich, Connecticut,  in  1709.  He  settled 
permanently  in  Greenwich,  and  was  one 
of  the  original  patentees  named  in  the 
patent  granted  to  the  town  of  Greenwich 

13 


1 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


by  the  General  Assembly  in  May,  1665. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly in  1701.  His  will  was  dated  Decem- 
ber 30,  1708,  and  probated  in  1709.  He 
married,  in  1669,  Sarah  Hardy,  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Ann  (Husted)  Hardy. 
Children:  Sarah,  born  December  10,  1670; 
Hannah,  born  March  12,  1672;  Thomas, 
born  December  16,  1674  ;  Joseph,  of  whom 
further;  Benjamin,  born  May  18,  1679; 
Mary,  born  in  1682;  Elizabeth,  born  Au- 
gust 5,  1684;  Ruth,  born  November  1, 
1687  ;  John,  born  April  8,  1689;  and  Lydia, 
born  in  1690. 

Joseph  Close,  son  of  Thomas  Close, 
was  born  November  20,  1676,  and  died 
October  4,  1760.  He  married,  in  1701, 
Rebecca  Tompkins,  born  in  1679,  died 
November  13,  1761.  Children:  Joseph 
(2),  of  whom  further;  Elizabeth,  born 
July  11,  1704;  Solomon,  born  June  23, 
1706. 

Joseph  (2)  Close,  son  of  Joseph  (1) 
Close,  was  born  September  20,  1702,  and 
died  January  4,  1760.  He  married  (first) 
May  29,  1728,  Eunice  Hait,  who  died 
March  7,  1740.  He  married  (second) 
July  26,  1744,  Mary  Merritt.  Children, 
all  by  his  first  wife :  Joseph,  born  July 
21,  1729;  Eunice,  born  May  10,  1731 ;  Je- 
rusha,  born  April  21,  1733  ;  Odle,  of  whom 
further. 

Odle  Close,  son  of  Joseph  (2)  Close, 
was  born  October  22,  1738,  and  died  April 
26,  1812.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  Revo- 
lution. He  married,  December  16,  1756, 
Bethia  Reynolds,  daughter  of  Gideon 
Reynolds,  born  February  27,  1742,  died 
February  17,  1832.  Children:  Odle  (2), 
born  January  11,  1758;  Bethia,  born  May 
6,  1760;  Gideon,  born  December  6,  1762; 
Gilbert,  born  March  7,  1765;  Jonathan 
Odle,  of  whom  further ;  Mary,  born  April 
16,  1770;  Tompkins,  born  May  11,  1772; 
Eunice,  born  August  12,  1774;  Elizabeth, 
born  July  16,  1776;  Shadrach,  born  Feb- 


ruary 9,  1779;  and  Nancy,  born  March  17, 
1781. 

Jonathan  Odle  Close,  son  of  Odle  Close, 
was  born  December  6,  1768;  married 
(first)  Mary  Mead,  born  January  10,  1775, 
died  April  3,  1805;  married  (second)  May 
21,  1806,  Rebecca  Lyon,  born  November 
10,  1765,  died  May  19,  1858.  Children, 
all  by  first  wife :  Elizabeth,  born  March, 
1793;  Gilbert;  Horace,  born  1796;  Wil- 
liam ;  and  Jonathan  Allen,  of  whom  fur- 
ther. 

Jonathan  Allen  Close,  son  of  Jonathan 
Odle  Close,  was  born  in  1802,  and  died 
February  10,  1875.  He  was  a  farmer,  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  Methodist. 
For  several  terms  he  served  in  the  Legis- 
lature, and  was  also  selectman  for  the 
town  of  Greenwich,  as  well  as  holding 
other  minor  offices.  He  married  Mary 
Hart,  of  White  Plains,  New  York,  born 
in  January,  1803,  died  January  31,  1879. 
Children :  Allen  Hart,  of  whom  further ; 
Mary ;  George  W. ;  and  Martha. 

Allen  Hart  Close,  son  of  Jonathan  A. 
Close,  was  born  April  26,  1829,  and  died 
May  8,  1904.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Greenwich  Academy,  and  lived  on  the 
homestead,  where  he  followed  farming 
for  many  years.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  held  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  and  assessor.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Greenwich  Wa- 
ter Company.  Mr.  Close  was  of  an  in- 
ventive mind,  and  although  he  did  not 
enter  this  field  from  a  commercial  stand- 
point, many  of  his  appliances  were  in 
use  on  his  own  farm.  He  married,  March 
14,  1854,  Gertrude  Voorhis  Spencer.  She 
was  descended  from  Steven  Coerte  Van 
Voorhees,  who  came  to  this  country  in 
April,  1660,  from  Holland.  Children: 
Jonathan  Allen,  born  February  11,  1856; 
Jacob  Voorhis,  born  June  19,  1859;  Peter 
Voorhis,  of  whom  further ;  and  Hannah 
Gertrude,  born  July  13,  1864. 


114 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Peter  Voorhis  Close,  son  of  Allen  Hart 
Close,  was  born  December  20,  i860,  in 
Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  attended  the 
public  schools  there  and  Greenwich  Acad- 
emy. He  learned  the  mason's  trade  and 
afterward  farmed  on  the  old  Close  home- 
stead at  Clapboard  Ridge.  For  the  last 
twenty-five  years  he  has  carried  on  a  build- 
ing and  jobbing  business  in  New  York 
City.  He  married,  November  18,  1885,  at 
Greenwich,  Anna  Sutherland  Thomas, 
born  July  14,  1866,  at  New  York  City,  died 
December  21,  1917,  at  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut, daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Sutherland)  Thomas.  Children:  1. 
Florence  Livingston,  married,  September 
10,  1912,  William  Jay  Willson  (q.  v.).  2. 
Walter  Guion,  born  December  3,  1888, 
married  Elizabeth  Hull  Jones,  and  has 
one  child,  Allen  Thomas,  born  March  8, 
1917.  3.  Harold  Thomas,  born  July  28, 
1892;  he  enlisted  in  the  Twelfth  Com- 
pany, C.  C.  A.  N.  G.,  Greenwich,  Connec- 
ticut, trained  at  Fisher's  Island  and  Fort 
Wright,  New  York,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  regular  army,  in  August,  1917. 
Afterward  he  was  transferred  to  Battery 
E,  Fifty-sixth  Coast  Artillery  Corps,  and 
was  on  the  Aisne-Marne  and  Meuse-Ar- 
gonne  fronts.  In  all  he  served  twenty- 
seven  months,  from  June  14,  1917,  to  Sep- 
tember 24,  1919. 


BURLEY,  Captain  Walter, 

Master  Mariner. 

The  name  of  Burley  is  an  ancient  one, 
having  originated  in  England.  It 
may  have  been  derived  from  burler,  a 
dresser  of  cloth,  burly,  boisterous,  or 
compounded  from  bur,  burgh,  elevated, 
and  ley,  meaning  untilled  ground,  viz., 
high  and  untilled  ground.  Burgh  also 
means  a  fortification,  a  castle,  and  ley, 
leigh,  means  a  field,  viz.,  a  castle  on  the 
field,  or  defense  of  the  lowly.    The  vari- 


ations in  spelling  the  name  have  been 
Burleigh,  Borleigh,  Burghly,  Burghley, 
Birgeley,  Burley,  Berley,  Birley,  Burlie, 
Burle,  Burlly,  Bourle,  Burly,  Budley, 
Burdley,  Berdley,  Birdley,  Birdly,  Bodley, 
Borley,  Barley,  Buries,  Beareley,  Brally, 
Brally,  Bowley,  Burhely,  and  perhaps 
Burleson  and  Burlison. 

Giles  Burley  was  an  inhabitant  of  Ips- 
wich in  1648,  and  a  commoner  in  1664. 
Felts'  "History  of  Ipswich"  says  of  the 
little  we  learn  of  Gyles  Budley,  "he  left  a 
wife,  Elizabeth,  and  children,  Andrew, 
James,  Giles,  and  perhaps  John,  the 
youngest,  who  probably  died  before  his 
father.  He  was  a  planter,  living  eight 
years  on  Brooke  street,  and  owning  divi- 
sion lot  No.  105,  situated  upon  Great  Hill, 
Hogg  Island.  On  June  13,  1668,  Good- 
wife  Birdley  had  granted  trees  for  one 
hundred  rayles  and  one  hundred  posts. 
February  23,  1669,  Rebecca,  widow  of 
Giles  Birdley,  married  Abraham  ffitt  of 
Ipswich.  Inventory  of  his  estate 
amounted  to  £241  4s.  6d." 

An  American  branch  of  the  family 
bears  arms  as  follows : 

Arms — Paly  of  six  argent  and  gules,  on  a  chief 
paly  six  crescents  all  counterchanged. 
Crest — A  stag's  head  erased  gules. 

Captain  Walter  Burley  was  a  son  of 
Samuel  Burley,  grandson  of  Silas  Burley, 
and  great-grandson  of  Henry  Burley,  who 
died  in  February,  1776.  Henry  Burley's 
wife,  Sarah,  died  in  February,  1826,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Silas  Burley 
died  March  14,  1833,  aged  seventy-one 
years,  and  his  wife,  Deborah,  died  Sep- 
tember 30,  1845,  aged  eighty-two  years. 
Deborah  Burley  was  responsible  for  the 
name  of  Dumpling  Pond,  North  Mianus, 
town  of  Greenwich,  in  the  following  man- 
ner: She  was  noted  for  the  excellence  of 
her  cooking  and  took  great  pride  in  her 
reputation.  On  one  occasion  when  her 
husband  and  his  farm  hands  came  in  from 


US 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OE  BIOGRAPHY 


the  fields  late  for  dinner,  Silas  Burley 
complained  that  the  dumplings,  which 
formed  a  part  of  the  meal,  and  which  had 
been  standing  for  some  time,  were  water 
soaked.  This  remark  greatly  offended  his 
wife,  who  replied  that  they  would  stay 
water  soaked,  and  threw  them  in  the 
pond,  which  thereafter  was  known  as 
Dumpling  Pond.  The  homestead  farm 
was  located  on  the  eastern  shore  of  this 
sheet  of  water.  Samuel  Burley  was  born 
on  this  farm,  married  Elizabeth  Ferris, 
and  died  October  5,  1835,  aged  thirty- 
three  years  and  two  months. 

Captain  Walter  Burley,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Elizabeth  (Ferris)  Burley,  was  born 
October  14,  1833,  on  the  Burley  home- 
stead, and  died  October  10,  1909.  His  fa- 
ther's death  occurred  when  he  was  young, 
and  as  a  boy  he  became  self-supporting. 
He  early  began  to  "follow  the  water," 
and  as  a  young  man  became  captain  of 
a  market  sloop  plying  between  Cos  Cob 
and  New  York  City.  Later  he  owned  a 
schooner,  which  he  operated  in  the  coast- 
wise trade,  and  he  afterward  built  an- 
other vessel  on  the  Little  East  river,  in 
Mathews  county,  Virginia,  and  for  a  time 
ran  her  as  a  freighter  on  the  river.  Sub- 
sequently, he  brought  her  North  and 
sailed  her  in  his  shipping  operations  on 
Long  Island  Sound.  For  two  years  Cap- 
tain Burley  was  a  resident  of  New  York 
City,  became  a  prosperous  shipping  mas- 
ter, and  acquired  a  fleet  consisting  of  a 
number  of  vessels,  including  barges  and 
a  steam  tug.  During  his  later  years  he 
operated  a  vessel  under  contract  with  the 
Stamford  Manufacturing  Company,  car- 
rying their  freight  between  Stamford  and 
New  York  City.  Captain  Walter  Burley 
was  a  well  known  figure  in  the  shipping 
trade  along  the  Sound,  and  during  the  long 
years  of  his  active  life  was  respected  for 
his  unbending  integrity  and  for  his  strict, 
fair  dealing.     Whether  sailing  as  master 


of  his  own  vessel,  or  directing  the  opera- 
tions of  his  ships  from  his  office,  he  held 
the  good-will  and  regard  of  his  associates. 
He  was  firm,  very  kindly  in  manner,  knew 
the  Sound  as  few  captains  did,  and  pos- 
sessed business  instincts  and  qualities 
that  brought  him  a  generous  measure  of 
prosperity.  In  1883  he  retired  from  the 
sea  and  engaged  in  the  coal  business,  his 
line  of  endeavor  for  the  remainder  of  his 
active  years. 

Captain  Walter  Burley  married  Hettie 
Faulkner  Burger,  daughter  of  Gabriel 
Samuel  Burger,  of  Rye  Neck,  New  York, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of:  1.  Annie, 
married  Arthur  Dodge,  of  Stamford. 
Mrs.  Dodge,  a  trained  vocalist  and  widely 
known  as  a  public  singer,  has  devoted  her 
talents  for  many  years  to  religious  serv- 
ice, and  has  sung  frequently  in  Stamford 
church  choirs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dodge  are 
the  parents  of:  Mary,  married  Nicholas 
Thiel  Ficker,  of  New  York,  and  has  two 
children,  Nicholas  T.,  Jr.,  and  Dorothy 
Dodge ;  Hettie,  died  aged  four  years ; 
Walter  Burley,  married  Vera  Provost 
Shearer,  of  Stamford,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth,  Virginia,  and  Anne;  Dor- 
othy, married  Jarvis  Ralph  Harbeck,  of 
Chicago.  2.  Clarence  A.,  a  sketch  of 
whom  follows.  3.  Jennie  L.,  married 
Norton  Stanley  Bird,  of  New  Haven.  4. 
Nettie,  married  Watson  Dodge  Wood- 
ward, M.  D.,  deceased,  of  New  York  City, 
5.  Edith  Melvina,  married  Harry  More- 
house. The  mother  of  these  children  died 
August  15.  1898,  aged  fifty-six  years;  she 
was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church,  a  woman  of  noble  life  and  char- 
acter. 


BURLEY,  Dr.  Clarence  A., 

Man   of  Enterprise. 

In  professional  practice  and  in  agricul- 
ture, two  widely  separated  lines  of  en- 


116 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


deavor,  Dr.  Clarence  A.  Burley  has  been 
equally  successful.  Entering  dental  prac- 
tice from  business  association,  in  1904  he 
retired  from  his  profession  to  devote  him- 
self to  general  farming  and  gardening  in 
his  native  State,  and  this,  in  connection 
with  real  estate  operations,  has  occupied 
him  to  the  present  time. 

Dr.  Burley  is  a  son  of  Captain  Walter 
and  Hettie  Faulkner  (Burger)  Burley 
(q.  v.),  and  was  born  at  Rye  Neck,  West- 
chester county,  New  York,  February  5, 
1862.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the 
local  public  schools  and  finished  in  George 
Glendening's  private  school  at  Stamford, 
spending  his  summers  on  the  water  with 
his  father,  and  when  he  had  finished  his 
scholastic  training  he  passed  six  or  seven 
years  with  Captain  Burley.  In  1872  he 
came  to  Stamford,  between  which  place 
and  New  York  his  father  operated  a 
freight  schooner  for  the  Stamford  Manu- 
facturing Company.  In  1883  Captain 
Burley  retired  from  the  sea  and  Clarence 
A.  Burley  was  associated  with  him  in  coal 
dealings  until  1888.  In  that  year  Dr. 
Burley  began  the  study  of  dentistry 
under  the  preceptorship  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  Dr.  W.  D.  Woodward,  in  New  York 
City,  and  upon  the  completion  of  his  pro- 
fessional training  opened  an  office  in  that 
city,  and  for  a  number  of  years  continued 
in  dental  practice. 

In  1904  Dr.  Burley  withdrew  from  his 
metropolitan  connections  in  dentistry  in 
order  to  engage  in  general  farming  and 
large  scale  market  gardening,  an  occupa- 
tion he  found  both  congenial  and  remu- 
nerative. In  1916  Dr.  Burley  came  into 
possession  of  the  property  known  as  the 
Enos  Lockwood  farm,  an  estate  of  sixty- 
three  acres,  and  this  land  he  cultivated 
until  its  close  proximity  to  Stamford's 
residential  district  made  its  value  too 
great  for  agricultural  purposes.  He  then 
began  its  platting  into  building  lots,  and 


has  since  been  engaged  in  the  erection  of 
attractive  homes  thereon,  which  have 
found  a  ready  market  in  this  pleasant  cen- 
ter. Until  1917  Dr.  Burley  had  a  herd 
of  about  thirty  cows  on  his  farm  and  sold 
their  milk  to  local  dealers. 

Dr.  Burley  married  (first)  September 
21,  1892,  Frances  Bristol,  daughter  of  An- 
thony Bristol,  of  Indianapolis,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  one  son,  Edward 
Keith.  Mrs.  Burley  died  December  30, 
1895.  Dr.  Burley  married  (second)  April 
15,  1897,  Edith  Lockwood,  adopted 
daughter  of  Enos  Lockwood.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Burley  are  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational church. 

The  record  of  Dr.  Burley  as  an  agri- 
culturist furnishes  conclusive  evidence  of 
the  fact  that  the  same  thoughtful  and  in- 
telligent direction  of  ability  and  energy 
which  wins  success  in  professional  life 
and  in  the  business  world  renders  farming 
distinctly  profitable,  and  entitles  farmers 
of  his  type  to  high  places  among  the  rep- 
resentative men  of  their  communities. 


DOLGE,  Carl  Bruno, 

Manufacturer,  Inventor. 

In  the  shaping  of  the  career  of  Carl 
Bruno  Dolge,  there  were  unusual  char- 
acteristics which,  combined,  won  for  him 
success,  both  in  business  and  private  life. 
Mr.  Dolge  was  born  in  the  town  of  Leip- 
sig,  Germany,  in  1847,  and  died  in  West- 
port,  Connecticut,  December  2,  1916. 
After  a  life  full  of  strife  and  activity  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  War  in  his  native 
land,  he  came  to  this  country,  September 
9,  1866.  Possessed  of  natural  talent  as  a 
wood  engraver,  he  procured  a  position 
with  Harper  Brothers,  and  many  of  the 
best  illustrations  in  Harper's  magazines 
of  that  period  are  the  product  of  his  skill. 

In  1873  Mr.  Dolge  inaugurated  on  a 
small  scale  in  Brooklyn  a  new  industry, 


117 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


the  manufacture  of  felt  for  piano  ham- 
mers, a  quality  that  had  hitherto  been 
imported,  owing  to  the  pecuniary  losses 
which  had  until  that  time  attended  the 
then  scarcely  understood  manufacture  of 
this  product  in  the  United  States.  Mr. 
Dolge  was  the  first  one  to  overcome  these 
difficulties  and  in  a  short  time  was  pro- 
ducing a  grade  of  felt  of  such  excellence 
that  it  found  ready  sale  on  the  European 
markets.  In  less  than  three  years  the 
Brooklyn  factory  proved  inadequate  to 
supply  the  constantly  increasing  demand 
and  the  plant  was  transferred  to  a  small 
village  in  the  Adirondacks,  called  Brock- 
et's Bridge,  where  can  be  seen  today  the 
immense  buildings  of  a  prosperous  com- 
pany whose  existence  is  due  solely  to  the 
superior  abilities  of  Carl  B.  Dolge. 

Through  the  efforts  of  his  numerous 
employees,  to  whom  he  had  endeared 
himself  by  his  equitable  and  kind  dealings, 
Mr.  Dolge  was  appointed  postmaster,  and 
the  name  of  the  village  changed  by  legal 
enactment  to  Dolgeville ;  all  the  positions 
of  honor,  road  commissioner,  school  trus- 
tee, the  presidency  of  various  commercial 
enterprises  and  societies  were  given  to 
him.  However,  the  strain  placed  upon  his 
physical  and  mental  powers  soon  became 
so  great  that  in  order  to  avoid  fatal  con- 
sequences Mr.  Dolge  was  compelled  to 
abandon  these  various  activities  and  re- 
turned to  Brooklyn,  where  in  complete 
rest  and  quiet  he  for  a  long  time  tried  to 
restore  his  shattered  health. 

As  soon  as  his  health  permitted  hirftu 
again  to  engage  in  business,  he  embarked 
with  a  Mr.  Huncke  in  the  manufacture  of 
the  celebrated  embalming  fluid,  "Utopia." 
That  was  in  April,  1886,  and  although  this 
new  venture  was  entirely  different  from 
the  business  in  which  he  had  for  so  many 
years  engaged,  Mr.  Dolge  in  a  short  time 
mastered   all   the   details   and    soon   suc- 


ceeded in  bringing  his  embalming  fluid, 
"Utopia,"  before  the  undertakers  of 
America.  During  all  his  life  his  policy 
was  to  give  the  best  article  possible  for 
the  price  charged,  and  on  that  foundation 
Mr.  Dolge  developed  a  large  and  suc- 
cessful business.  His  inventive  genius 
was  always  active  in  devising  new  and 
improved  appliances  and  instruments  for 
the  use  of  embalmers,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  :  The  atmosphere  pump  ;  the 
extracting  needle ;  the  arterial  binders ; 
the  draining  tube ;  the  infant  trocar  and 
needle ;  the  professional  wallet ;  tube  sup- 
porters ;  graduated  bottle ;  hypodermic 
instrument ;  leecher,  etc. 

The  achievement  in  which  he  took  the 
most  pride  was  the  founding  alone,  un- 
aided, and  in  the  face  of  discouraging 
opposition,  of  the  United  States  College 
of  Embalming.  This  was  the  dream  of 
all  progressive  undertakers,  and  through 
Mr.  Dolge's  efforts  it  became  a  reality, 
and  a  place  of  instruction  in  the  art  of 
embalming.  This  Mr.  Dolge  accom- 
plished in  opposition  to  friendly  admoni- 
tions ;  in  spite  of  the  effort  of  competitors 
to  impede ;  without  any  certainty  of  fu- 
ture pecuniary  returns  commensurate 
with  the  large  investment  and  the  expense 
of  demonstrators,  costly  paraphernalia, 
etc.  His  enterprise  and  unswerving  hon- 
esty won  for  him  the  esteem  and  sincere 
friendship  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact. 

Among  other  valuable  discoveries  cred- 
ited to  Mr.  Dolge  were  the  value  of  for- 
maldehyde as  an  embalming  fluid,  and  the 
introduction  of  the  first  nonpoisonous  em- 
balming fluid.  In  1886,  the  same  year  in 
which  Dr.  Dolge  became  identified  with 
the  manufacture  of  embalming  fluids,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Jean  D.  Ben- 
der, and  established  the  Atlantic  Starch 
Works  in  Brooklyn.     The  plant  was  de- 


118 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


stroyed  by  fire  in  1890;  a  factory  site  was 
then  purchased  in  Westport  and  the  busi- 
ness carried  on  there  for  many  years.  Dr. 
Dolge  sold  his  interest  in  this  company 
in   1892. 

So  great  was  the  attachment  of  many 
of  his  employees  for  Mr.  Dolge  that  when 
he  began  his  operations  in  Westport  some 
of  these  removed  there  from  Dolgeville. 
The  business  in  Westport  is  carried  on 
under  the  name  of  the  C.  B.  Dolge  Com- 
pany, and  the  product  manufactured,  dis- 
infectants, is  sold  direct  to  institutions, 
hospitals,  factories,  and  to  the  retail  trade 
jobbers. 

As  a  pastime  and  recreation  from  his 
business,  Mr.  Dolge  took  up  landscape 
painting.  He  painted  for  his  own  pleas- 
ure and  also  that  of  his  immediate  friends, 
and  his  work  has  been  admired  and 
praised  by  many.  One  who  had  been 
privileged  to  see  his  paintings  wrote :  "It 
was  indeed  a  rare  treat  to  be  allowed  to 
inspect  the  many  water  colors  and  oil 
paintings  which  adorn  his  handsome 
home  and  fill  several  portfolios  beside. 
Genuine  love  of  nature  is  in  evidence  in 
every  particular  picture."  His  favorite 
sketching  place  was  Lake  George,  and 
here  he  summered  with  his  family  for 
many  years.  His  treatment  of  Lake 
George  is  historically,  as  well  as  artis- 
tically, a  noteworthy  achievement.  In 
the  parlor  of  his  late  home  hangs  a  full 
length  portrait  of  his  father,  one  of  the 
heroes  of  the  German  revolutionary 
movement,  the  loving  work  of  C.  B. 
Dolge.  Mr.  Dolge  was  a  man  of  liberal 
Democratic  views,  most  considerate  to- 
wards his  employees,  and  beloved  by 
them. 

Mr.  Dolge  married  Henrietta  Slister, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  two  sons : 
Karl  Alfred,  and  Arthur  H.,  sketches  of 
whom  follow. 


DOLGE,  Karl  Alfred, 

Manufacturer. 

Karl  Alfred  Dolge,  the  eldest  son  of 
Carl  Bruno  and  Henrietta  (Slister)  Dolge 
(q.  v.),  was  born  in  1880.  He  attended 
Packard's  Business  College  in  New  York 
City,  and  then  entered  his  father's  busi- 
ness. He  was  soon  promoted  to  the  of- 
fice of  treasurer,  which  position  he  held 
until  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1916.  In 
the  latter  year  Mr.  Dolge  became  presi- 
dent, succeeding  his  honored  father.  He 
is  among  the  leading  citizens  of  West- 
port,  and  active  in  all  public  matters.  Mr. 
Dolge  is  a  member  of  the  Westport  Club ; 
the  Westport  Country  Club,  and  the  Old 
Colony  Club  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Dolge  married  Betty  Lloyd,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  a  son,  Lloyd 
Dolge. 


DOLGE,  Arthur  H., 

Manufacturer. 

Arthur  H.  Dolge,  youngest  son  of  Carl 
Bruno  and  Henrietta  (Slister)  Dolge  (q. 
v.),  was  born  in  Dolgeville,  New  York, 
May  13,  1882,  and  was  educated  there  in 
the  public  schools.  His  education  was 
completed  at  the  Norwalk  University,  and 
soon  after  this  time  Mr.  Dolge  became 
associated  with  his  father  in  business. 
After  he  had  learned  the  details,  he  was 
made  vice-president  of  the  company,  and 
after  his  father's  death,  he  succeeded  his 
brother  as  treasurer.  Mr.  Dolge  now 
holds  both  these  offices  and  is  capably 
carrying  on  the  responsibilities  which 
have  come  to  him.  He  enters  ac- 
tively into  the  social  and  business  life 
of  Westport,  and  is  highly  esteemed 
among  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Westport  Country  Club;  the 
Westport  Club,  and  the  Old  Colony  Club 
of  New  York. 


119 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Mr.  Dolge  married  Josephine  Reeves, 
daughter  of  George  H.  Reeves,  of  Brook- 
lyn, New  York. 


COMSTOCK,  Samuel, 

Retired   Farmer. 

In  Devonshire,  England,  there  is  a  lit- 
tle village  called  Culmstock,  with  a  few 
hundred  people  living  there.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  a  small  stream,  called  the  River 
Culm,  from  which  it  derives  its  name. 
Residents  in  and  near  this  village  were 
wont  to  retain  the  name  as  a  surname,  and 
the  immigrants  coming  to  this  country 
brought  it  with  them.  It  is  today  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  respected  names  of 
early  Colonial  families.  Members  bear- 
ing the  name  are  found  in  the  business 
and  professional  world  in  large  numbers. 
The  family  of  which  Samuel  Comstock, 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  South  Nor- 
walk,  is  a  member,  descends  from  one  of 
the  first  Colonial  settlers. 

In  1650  Christopher  Comstock  came  to 
Fairfield,  Connecticut,  and  in  1661  he  was 
in  Norwalk.  He  is  believed  to  have  been 
a  son  of  William  Comstock,  who  was 
early  in  Massachusetts.  Christopher 
Comstock  served  as  a  deputy,  and  mar- 
ried, October  6,  1663,  Hannah  Piatt,  of 
Milford.  She  was  baptized  October  6, 
1643.  Christopher  Comstock  died  De- 
cember 28,  1702. 

Moses  Comstock,  son  of  Christopher 
and  Hannah  (Piatt)  Comstock,  was  born 
May  4,  1685,  in  Norwalk,  and  died  there, 
January  18,  1766.  He  married,  February 
23,  1709-10,  Abigail  Brinsmade,  of  Hart- 
ford, and  they  were  the  parents  of  Abijah 
Comstock,  of  whom  further. 

Abijah  Comstock,  son  of  Moses  and 
Abigail  (Brinsmade)  Comstock,  was  born 
in  Norwalk,  November  19,  1721,  and  died 
in  New  Canaan,  June  22,  1807.     He  mar- 


ried Deborah  Benedict,  of  Norwalk,  May 

30,  1745- 

Samuel  Comstock,  son  of  Abijah  and 
Deborah  (Benedict)  Comstock,  was  born 
in  Norwalk,  July  II,  1767,  and  died  in 
New  Canaan,  November  9,  1819.  He 
married,  December  6,  1793,  Catherine 
Clock,  of  Darien.  She  was  born  Novem- 
ber 18,  1769,  and  died  March  20,  1839, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Clock.  Samuel 
Comstock  was  a  farmer  in  New  Canaan, 
and  the  farm  which  he  owned  is  now 
owned  by  his  grandson  ;  it  has  been  con- 
tinuously in  the  family.  Samuel  Com- 
stock was  commissioned  ensign  and  rose 
through  the  ranks  to  major,  receiving  his 
commission  from  Governor  Trumbull. 

Samuel   (2)    Comstock,  son  of  Samuel 

(1)  and  Catherine  (Clock)  Comstock,  was 
born  in  New  Canaan,  July  4,  1802,  and 
died  there  March  11,  1871.  He 
married,  October  3,  1837,  his  cousin, 
Sarah  Comstock,  born  in  1812,  died 
February  7,  1901  ;  she  was  a  daughter 
of  David  Comstock,  of  Norwalk.  Sam- 
uel (2)  Comstock  was  raised  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  engaged  in  farming  all 
his  life.  In  his  younger  days  he  was  a 
Whig  and  in  later  life  an  Independent  in 
politics  ;  he  held  various  town  offices.  His 
children,  only  four  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity, were  :  Sarah  ;  Ann  Eliza  ;  Joseph- 
ine ;  Clementine,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Conklin, 
of  Omaha,  Nebraska;  and  Samuel  (3),  of 
further  mention. 

Samuel   (3)   Comstock,  son  of  Samuel 

(2)  and  Sarah  (Comstock)  Comstock, 
was  born  November  29,  185 1,  and  was 
brought  up  on  the  home  farm.  In  due 
course  of  time  he  succeeded  his  father 
as  owner  of  the  farm,  and  successfully 
operated  it  for  about  forty  years,  when  he 
retired  to  enjoy  a  well-earned  rest.  Mr. 
Comstock  has  been  one  of  the  substan- 
tial citizens  of  Norwalk  for  many  years; 
he  is  the  type  of  man  who  is  an  asset  to 

20 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


any  community,  a  man  of  honor  and  in- 
tegrity. Since  retiring  from  active  duties 
Mr.  Comstock  has  spent  his  winters  in 
Florida,  where  he  has  a  winter  home. 

Mr.  Comstock  married  Florence  May 
Benedict,  daughter  of  William  Henry 
Benedict,  of  Norwalk,  and  the  house  in 
which  they  live  has  been  in  the  Benedict 
family  for  four  generations.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Comstock  attend  and  aid  in  the  support 
of  the  South  Norwalk  Congregational 
Church. 


GORHAM,  Henry, 

Business  Man,  Public  Official. 

The  memory  of  those  whose  lives  have 
been  spent  in  useful  activities,  with  the 
welfare  of  the  community  always  at  heart, 
will  ever  be  a  favorite  topic  with  the  bi- 
ographer. Generation  after  generation 
the  family  spirit  lives  and  thrives  through 
all  the  hardships  of  pioneer  existence, 
forms  and  governs  new  conditions,  merg- 
ing into  that  supreme  spirit  of  National 
progress  and  independence  which  has 
made  America  the  foremost  Nation  of  the 
world  today.  Henry  Gorham,  prominent 
in  the  Stamford  of  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  was  a  noteworthy 
member  of  one  of  the  oldest  of  American 
Colonial  families. 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  Gorham 
reaches  back  to  ancient  English  times. 
It  is  one  of  those  names  derived  from  the 
location  of  the  home  of  its  first  bearer. 
It  was  formed  from  two  words :  Gore, 
which  signifies  a  three-cornered  piece  of 
land,  and  ham,  signifying  an  enclosure. 
It  is  thus  clear  that  some  early  ancestor 
of  this  family  built  his  home  close  to  a 
piece  of  land  of  this  shape,  which  was 
enclosed  for  the  protection  of  his  posses- 
sions. From  the  earliest  form  of  John  of 
Gore-ham,  or  John  atte-Gore-ham,  the 
form  has  gradually  changed  to  its  present 


form,  Gorham.  The  arms  of  the  Gorham 
family  are :  Gules,  three  shacklebolts, 
conjoined  in  the  fesse  point,  or. 

(I)  Captain  John  Gorham,  an  early  an- 
cestor of  this  family,  was  born  at  Bene- 
field,  Northamptonshire,  England  ;  he  was 
the  son  of  Ralph  Gorham,  and  the  grand- 
son of  James  Gorham.  He  was  born  in 
1550,  and  died  in  1576.  He  married,  in 
1572,  Agnes  Bernington. 

(II)  Ralph  Gorham,  son  of  Captain 
John  and  Agnes  (Bernington)  Gorham. 
was  born  in  1575,  and  died  about  1643. 
He  came  to  New  England  with  his  family, 
and  was  in  Plymouth  in  1637. 

(III)  Captain  John  (2)  Gorham,  son 
of  Ralph  Gorham,  was  baptized  January 
28,  1620.  He  was  a  devoted  professor  of 
the  Puritan  faith.  He  married,  in  1643, 
Desire  Howland,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Tilley)  Howland,  born  in 
Plymouth,  died  October  13,  1683.  John 
Howland  was  among  the  passengers  of 
the  "Mayflower,"  as  was  also  John  Til- 
ley,  grandfather  of  Desire  Howland.  In 
1646  John  Gorham  removed  from  Plym- 
outh to  Marshfield,  and  in  1648  he  was 
chosen  constable  of  the  latter  town.  He 
was  admitted  a  freeman,  June  4,  1650,  and 
in  1652  removed  to  Yarmouth.  He  be- 
came a  very  prominent  man  in  the  little 
pioneer  community,  and  owned  a  grist 
mill  and  a  tannery.  He  was  deputy  from 
Yarmouth  to  Plymouth  Colony,  April  6, 
1653.  He  filled  the  important  office  of 
surveyor  of  highways  in  Yarmouth.  He 
did  gallant  service  in  King  Philip's  War, 
in  which  struggle  he  lost  his  life.  For  his 
sendees  at  this  time  his  family  were 
awarded  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
lived  in  Barnstable  and  there  made  his 
home  most  of  his  life. 

(IV)  Shubael  Gorham,  son  of  Captain 
John  (2)  and  Desire  (Howland)  Gorham, 
was.  born  October  21,  1667,  in  Barnstable, 
Massachusetts.     His  parents  wished  him 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


to  enter  one  of  the  professions,  but  he  was 
more  interested  in  the  establishment  and 
development  of  the  Colony.  He  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  had  a  share  in 
the  actual  constructive  work  of  the  vi- 
cinity. He  became  a  prosperous  and  well- 
to-do  business  man,  keeping  a  tavern  and 
owning  a  number  of  shares  in  a  fulling 
mill.  He  married,  in  1696,  Puella  Hussey, 
of  Nantucket,  and  later  they  removed  to 
South  Sea.  His  will  was  dated  Septem- 
ber 23,  1748,  and  proved  August  7,  1750. 

(V)  George  Gorham,  son  of  Shubael 
and  Puella  (Hussey)  Gorham,  was  born 
in  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  January  29, 
1696  or  1697.  In  early  life  he  was  a  sea 
captain,  but  was  located  in  Rye,  New 
York,  in  1727.  He  still  kept  an  active  in- 
terest in  commerce  by  water.  He  had  a 
flour  and  grist  mill  at  Rye,  and  sent  his 
product  to  the  West  Indies  in  his  own 
vessels.  He  was  licensed,  in  1727,  to  sail 
from  New  London  to  the  Barbadoes,  with 
the  sloop  ''Hannah."  Some  years  after 
this  he  came  to  Stamford,  Connecticut. 
He  married,  in  Rye,  New  York,  July  20, 
1726,  Hannah  Banks. 

(VI)  Daniel  Gorham,  son  of  George 
and  Hannah  (Banks)  Gorham,  was  born 
in  Rye,  New  York,  May  17,  1737.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  resident  of  Darien,  Con- 
necticut. He  was  very  prosperous,  and 
became  a  large  land  owner.  Besides  con- 
ducting a  farm  of  considerable  size,  he 
was  one  of  the  most  important  millers  in 
that  section.  He  married  Jane  Bates, 
July  15,  1780. 

(VII)  Henry  Gorham,  well  remem- 
bered by  many  residents  of  Fairfield 
county,  son  of  Daniel  and  Jane  (Bates) 
Gorham,  was  born  in  Darien,  Connecti- 
cut, in  the  house  now  occupied  by  his 
daughter,  August  28,  1792.  This  house 
was  built  in  1789,  replacing  a  much  older 
one.  Here  his  childhood  was  spent.  He 
received  his  elementary  education  in  the 


public  schools  of  the  town,  then  later  at- 
tended a  private  school.  He  then  taught 
school  for  a  time,  leaving  the  impress  of 
his  high  ideals  and  splendid  personality 
on  a  group  of  young  people  who  were 
later  to  bear  a  part  in  the  development  of 
this  section  into  what  it  is  today.  He 
then  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he 
became  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  dry  goods 
house.  Later  he  went  into  business  for 
himself  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Gor- 
ham &  Mott.  Various  outside  influences, 
which  the  young  men  had  the  foresight 
to  analyze,  deterred  them  from  attempt- 
ing any  expansion,  and  led  them  at  length 
to  close  up  the  business.  Mr.  Gorham 
determined  to  do  nothing  hastily,  and 
wishing  to  look  about  for  some  promising 
opening,  went  to  Ohio,  leaving  his  wife 
and  two  children  in  the  care  of  his  sister. 
The  section  did  not  particularly  appeal 
to  him,  nor  did  he  find  his  health  as  good 
as  in  his  former  home  section,  thus  it 
did  not  require  much  urging  on  the  part 
of  his  brother  to  induce  him  to  return 
to  Darien  to  engage  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness. They  formed  a  partnership,  pur- 
chased the  family  homestead,  and  erected 
a  thoroughly  up-to-date  flouring  mill. 
The  vast  plans  of  the  West  were  still  un- 
broken prairie,  but  the  fertile  Genesee 
Valley,  in  New  York  State,  was  just 
reaching  the  height  of  its  production  as 
a  wheat  growing  section.  As  the  mills 
there  handled  the  grain  without  the  trans- 
portation inevitable  for  the  Connecticut 
millers,  the  brothers  soon  found  that  it 
was  not  worth  while  to  attempt  to  com- 
pete with  the  mills  which  were  more  ad- 
vantageously located.  They  continued 
in  the  business,  however,  for  Connecticut 
farmers  then  grew  a  large  share  of  the 
grain  required  by  their  stock,  and  the 
Gorhamsdid  an  extensive  business,  grind- 
ing corn,  both  for  culinary  purposes  and 
for  feed.    Flour  they  bought  and  sold.    In 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1857  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Mr. 
Gorham  was  then  quite  advanced  in 
years,  and  feeling  no  need  nor  inclination 
to  reestablish  the  business  retired  to  the 
comfort  and  leisure  for  which  his  busy 
life  had  left  neither  time  nor  opportunity. 
He  lived  but  four  years  to  enjoy  the  quiet 
pursuits  of  his  choice,  passing  away  Sep- 
tember 21,  l86l. 

Mr.  Gorham  married  Julia  B.  Raymond, 
daughter  of  George  Raymond,  of  New 
York  City.  Her  mother  was  Susan 
(Parker)  Raymond,  a  Southern  lady. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children : 
Helen,  who  married  John  J.  Warren,  of 
Stamford,  deceased ;  Francis,  now  de- 
ceased, formerly  of  Brooklyn,  and  Mount 
Vernon,  New  York;  George  Raymond, 
deceased,  formerly  of  Noroton ;  Henry, 
deceased,  formerly  of  New  York  City ; 
Joseph,  deceased,  formerly  of  Savannah, 
Georgia ;  James,  deceased,  formerly  of 
Brooklyn ;  Caroline,  of  Darien,  who  lives 
at  the  old  homestead,  and  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Stamford  Historical  So- 
ciety ;  and  Charles  Leary,  deceased. 

Mr.  Gorham  is  remembered  in  the  com- 
munity as  a  man  of  lovable  personality, 
and  genuine,  sterling  worth.  Of  genial 
presence,  fond  of  a  telling  anecdote,  full 
of  the  true,  deep  goodness  of  heart  which 
keeps  alive  the  brotherhood  of  man,  and 
thus  strengthens  one's  faith  in  the  Fa- 
therhood of  God,  he  was  a  man  whose 
friendship  was  valued  and  whose  con- 
victions were  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  possessed  too  generous  a  nature 
to  amass  great  wealth.  He  could  always 
see  the  justice  and  right  on  the  side  of 
the  other  man.  He  was  sincerely  devoted 
to  the  public  welfare,  holding  a  high  inter- 
pretation of  his  personal  duty  as  a  citizen. 
He  served  as  selectman  for  many  years, 
and  such  was  his  public  spirit  that  he 
would  never  put  a  price  on  his  services, 
and  declined  more  than  an  honorarium  of 


ten  dollars  per  year.  In  the  truest  sense 
of  the  term  he  was  a  public  servant,  seek- 
ing not  his  own  but  the  public  welfare, 
and  the  same  spirit  of  unselfishness  was 
evident  through  all  his  life.  He  was  a 
man  whose  memory  lives  though  the 
years  have  gone  by  since  his  passing. 


SAXTON,  William  Henry, 

Manufacturer.  Banker. 

There  were  many  and  varied  ways  of 
deriving  surnames,  yet  the  two  most  gen- 
erally found  are  from  the  location  of  the 
ancestral  home,  and  from  occupation  of 
an  early  ancestor.  Authorities  differ  re- 
garding the  origin  of  the  surname  Saxton ; 
some  claim  that  it  is  derived  from  Sax- 
town,  meaning  a  town  of  the  Saxons,  and 
others,  that  it  is  derived  from  the  office 
of  the  church,  the  same  as  sexton.  How- 
ever, the  name  is  a  very  ancient  one  and 
is  found  on  record  at  an  early  date  in 
English  history.  The  family  from  which 
Mr.  Saxton  descends  was  early  settled 
on  Long  Island,  and  there  his  father,  Ste- 
phen R.  Saxton,  was  born  July  30,  1813. 

The  latter  grew  to  manhood  in  Long 
Island,  and  soon  after  attaining  his  ma- 
jority went  to  New  York  City,  where  he 
engaged  in  business.  Very  early  in  his 
life  he  proved  himself  to  be  possessed  of 
more  than  the  ordinary  business  acumen, 
and  from  the  outset  was  very  successful 
in  business.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
cabinet  maker,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  marriage.  Mr.  Saxton 
then  entered  business  as  a  manufacturer 
and  importer  of  artificial  flowers.  The 
business  was  conducted  under  the  name 
of  S.  R.  Saxton,  and  later  a  nephew  of 
Mr.  Saxton  was  admitted  to  partnership, 
at  which  time  the  name  was  Saxton  & 
Vanvelsor.  Mr.  Saxton  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  and  during  his  life  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Sau- 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


gatuck  Bank,  which  later  became  the 
First  National  Bank,  of  Westport,  and  in 
1913  was  reorganized  as  the  Westport 
Bank  and  Trust  Company.  Mr.  Saxton 
married,  in  1841,  Samantha  Marietta  Por- 
ter, born  August  29,  181 7,  in  Danbury, 
Connecticut,  and  died  in  Westport,  March 
14,  1903,  daughter  of  Menander  and 
Clarissa  (Sanford)  Porter.  Menander 
Porter  was  born  February  17,  1789,  and 
died  October  18,  1838;  he  married  Clarissa' 
Sanford,  born  November  6,  1794.  His 
father,  Philo  Porter,  was  born  in  August, 
1767,  and  died  March  30,  1830.  He  mar- 
ried, in  November,  1785,  Lois  Baldwin, 
born  in  July,  1768.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saxton 
were  attendants  of  the  Congregational 
church,  of  Westport. 

The  only  son  of  Stephen  R.  and  Saman- 
tha M.  (Porter)  Saxton  was  William 
Henry  Saxton,  born  May  1,  1842,  in  New 
York  City,  and  lived  there  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age.  It  was  at  this  time 
he  removed  to  Saugatuck,  Connecticut, 
with  his  family,  and  there  he  has  resided 
practically  all  his  life  since,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  trips  abroad.  His  schooling  was 
obtained  in  the  Greens  Farms  Academy, 
and  subsequently  he  went  to  New  York 
and  entered  his  father's  business  as  a 
clerk.  He  learned  the  business  in  detail, 
and  later  was  admitted  as  a  partner.  For 
almost  ten  years  Mr.  Saxton  was  the 
firm's  representative  in  Paris,  France. 
Since  1S87  Mr.  Saxton  has  been  connected 
with  the  Westport  Bank  and  Trust  Com- 
pany, and  now  serves  that  institution  as 
vice-president  and  director.  Mr.  Saxton 
has  a  beautiful  home  in  Saugatuck,  situ- 
ated on  the  Saugatuck  river  and  com- 
manding a  wonderful  view.  He  has  al- 
ways been  represented  among  the  promi- 
nent citizens  there,  and  is  held  in  high 
respect  and  esteem. 

In  1867  Mr.  Saxton  married  Emily  F. 
Sherwood,  daughter  of  Captain  Frederick 


and  Emily  (Banks)  Sherwood  (see  Sher- 
wood VIII). 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saxton  were  the  parents 
of  four  children,  only  one  of  whom,  An- 
gie,  Mrs.  B.  L.  Woodworth,  is  now  living. 
The  others  were:  Clara  H.,  married  Rev. 
H.  M.  Burr;  Emily  F.,  died  in  Paris, 
France ;  Edward  R.  The  family  attend 
the  Congregational  church  and  Mr.  Sax- 
ton has  been  a  deacon  there  for  many 
years. 

(The   Sherwood  Line). 

(I)  The  Sherwoods  are  one  of  the  old- 
est families  in  Fairfield  county,  being  de- 
scended from  Thomas  Sherwood,  the 
immigrant.  The  latter  came  from  Ips- 
wich, England,  in  the  "France,"  in  1634. 
He  was  born  in  England  about  1586,  and 
died  in  1655  in  Fairfield.  After  coming 
to  America,  Thomas  Sherwood  lived  for 
several  years  in  Massachusetts,  and 
thence  removed  to  Fairfield,  Connecticut. 
He  married  (first)  Alice  Seabrook,  born 
in  1587,  daughter  of  Robert  Seabrook, 
and  the  Christian  name  of  his  second  wife 
was  Mary. 

(II)  Thomas  (2)  Sherwood,  son  of  the 
immigrant,  Thomas  (1)  Sherwood,  was 
born  in  1624,  and  died  in  1698.  He  was 
admitted  a  freeman  in  Hartford,  Connec- 
ticut, October  13,  1664,  and  was  the  first 
miller  in  Mill  River,  Fairfield.  He  mar- 
ried Ann  Turney. 

(III)  Samuel  Sherwood,  son  of  Thomas 
(2)  and  Ann  (Turney)  Sherwood,  was 
born  in  June,  1725.  He  married  and  was 
the  father  of  Daniel,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Daniel  Sherwood,  son  of  Samuel 
Sherwood,  was  born  in  1708,  and  died  in 
1874.  During  the  Revolutionary  period, 
Daniel  Sherwood  and  his  wife,  Martha 
(Hull)  Sherwood,  kept  a  tavern. 

( Y)  Daniel  (2)  Sherwood,  son  of  Dan- 
iel (1)  and  Martha  (Hull)  Sherwood,  was 
born  November  20,  1735,  and  died  in 
1819.      In    1756  he   was   graduated   from 


124 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Yale  College.  He  married  Abigail  An- 
drews, born  in  1736,  died  in  1793,  daugh- 
ter of  Deacon  John  Andrews. 

(VI)  Daniel  (3)  Sherwood,  son  of 
Daniel  (2)  and  Abigail  (Andrews)  Sher- 
wood, was  born  June  8,  1761,  and  died 
December  19,  1828.  He  was  a  farmer  in 
Greens  Farms,  part  of  which  estate  is 
still  in  possession  of  the  family. 

(VII)  Frederick  Sherwood,  son  of 
Daniel  (3)  Sherwood,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1810,  one  of  the  famous  Sherwood 
triplets,  the  other  two  being  named  Fran- 
cis and  Franklin,  all  sea  captains.  Sher- 
wood's Island  is  named  for  this  family. 
Captain  Frederick  Sherwood  married 
Emily  Banks. 

(VIII)  Emily  F.  Sherwood,  daughter 
of  Captain  Frederick  and  Emily  (Banks) 
Sherwood,  became  the  wife  of  William 
Henry  Saxton  (see  Saxton). 


LELAND,  George  Benton, 

Manufacturing  Executive. 

The  wonders  of  electrical  science  have 
engaged  the  brightest  minds  of  recent 
years.  Their  practical  application  has 
revolutionized  industry  and  ended  house- 
hold drudgery.  The  story  of  electricity 
is  full  of  fascinating  interest,  and  those 
who  can  tell  the  most  say  that  the  sci- 
ence is  only  in  its  infancy.  George  Ben- 
ton Leland,  of  Stamford,  Connecticut,  is 
one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  section 
in  the  electrical  world.  And  noting  the 
eminently  practical  line  of  work  in  which 
he  is  occupied,  it  is  interesting  to  follow 
back  to  their  American  origin  the  family 
lines  through  which,  from  one  generation 
to  another,  this  practical  trend  of  effort 
has  been  an  actuating  impulse. 

The  name  of  Leland,  according  to  the 
most  generally  accepted  authorities,  is 
derived  from  the  place  of  residence  of  the 
earliest  bearers  of  the  name,  as  lee,  leigh, 


lea,  ley,  or  lye,  all  different  forms  de- 
scriptive of  such  land  as  we  call  a  pas- 
ture. This  circumstance  would  very  defi- 
nitely indicate  that  the  early  bearers  of 
this  name  were  industrious  farmers  and 
shepherds.  The  name  was  used  in  the 
form  of  Leyland,  and  many  illustrious 
men  have  borne  it  in  England  and  Amer- 
ica. A  Leland  in  England  attained  the 
distinction  of  serving  as  chaplain  to  King 
Henry  VIII.,  and  was  the  only  person 
ever  holding  the  office  of  "King's  An- 
tiquary." He  was  one  of  the  most  ac- 
complished scholars  and  voluminous 
writers  of  his  own  or  any  other  age.  The 
Lelands  of  America  have  had  many  prom- 
inent men  among  their  number,  men  who 
have  made  their  name  significant  of  big 
things  in  development  of  the  National 
prosperity.     The  Leland  coat-of-arms  is : 

Arms — Gules    a    saltire    argent    charged    with 
three  palets  azure,  a  chief  or. 

Crest — A  crow  rising,  transfixed  with  an  arrow. 
Motto — Cut  dcbeo  fidus. 

(I)  Henry  Leland,  according  to  the 
most  accurate  records,  was  the  progenitor 
of  all  the  families  who  bear  this  name 
in  America,  almost  without  exception. 
He  was  born  in  England,  about  1625.  It 
is  probable  that  he  came  to  America  in 
1652,  as  the  church  records  of  Dorchester, 
Massachusetts,  show  that  he  united  with 
the  church  in  that  town  in  1653.  Not  long 
after,  he  settled  on  land  where  the  town 
of  Sherburne  was  later  located,  and  here 
he  resided  until  his  death,  April  4,  1680. 
Henry  Leland  made  his  will,  March  27, 
1680  (O.  S.),  and  on  June  8th  following 
it  was  probated.  He  made  a  practice  of 
spelling  his  name  Layland.  All  records 
give  every  reason  for  perpetuating  his 
memory  as  a  man  of  high  character, 
meeting  danger  with  invincible  courage, 
and  enduring  the  inevitable  hardships  of 
pioneer  life  with  patient  fortitude,  seek- 


12  = 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ing  the  solace  of  religious  devotion 
through  all.  He  married  Margaret  Bad- 
cock,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  five 
children. 

(II)  Ebenezer  Leland,  the  fourth  child 
of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Badcock)  Le- 
land, was  born  in  Old  Medfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  25,  1657,  and  died  in 
Sherburne,  in  1742.  He  followed  farming 
during  all  his  life,  like  the  majority  of  the 
colonists.  His  son  Timothy  administered 
his  estate,  which  amounted  to  £198  10s. 
6d.  Administration  was  granted,  October 
18,  1742.  Ebenezer  Leland  was  married 
twice ;  the  name  of  his  first  wife  being 
Deborah ;  and  his  second  wife  Mary 
Hunt. 

(III)  Captain  James  Leland,  third  son 
of  Ebenezer  and  Deborah  Leland,  was 
born  in  Sherburne,  Massachusetts,  in 
1687,  and  died  in  Grafton,  in  1768.  Be- 
sides conducting  the  farm,  he  served  in 
the  militia  with  the  rank  of  captain.  In 
the  commissioner's  return  of  his  father's 
estate,  January  12,  1753,  it  is  recorded 
that  Captain  James  Leland  received  in 
the  year  1708  £17  10s.  His  early  life 
was  spent  in  Sherburne,  but  in  1723,  after 
his  marriage,  he  removed  with  his  wife 
and  little  family  and  settled  in  Worcester 
county,  Massachusetts,  in  a  township 
then  called  Hassanamisco,  which  later  be- 
came the  town  of  Grafton.  He  married 
Hannah  Learned. 

(IV)  Phineas  Leland,  son  of  Captain 
James  and  Hannah  (Learned)  Leland, 
was  born  in  Grafton,  Massachusetts,  in 
1730,  and  died  there  in  1773.  He  settled 
near  the  home  of  his  father,  in  Grafton, 
as  did  all  his  brothers  and  sisters  who 
lived  to  maturity,  and  lived  on  a  farm 
which  was  a  part  of  his  father's  estate,  sit- 
uated on  the  Blackstone  river.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  Lydia  Fletcher,  (second) 
Sarah  Warren. 

(V)  Caleb  Leland,  son  of  Phineas  Le- 


land, was  born  in  1765,  and  died  in  1843, 
in  Baltimore,  Vermont.  He  lived  in  Graf- 
ton, Massachusetts,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  about  the  year  1800,  when 
he  removed  to  Chester,  Vermont,  then 
soon  afterward  to  the  adjoining  town  of 
Baltimore,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death.     He  married  Lakin  Willard. 

(VI)  Charles  Leland,  son  of  Caleb  and 
Lakin  (Willard)  Leland,  was  born  in 
1806.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  highly 
respected  in  the  community,  and  an  in- 
dustrious and  upright  man.  He  served 
for  many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
lived  in  Lowell,  Vermont,  in  his  younger 
days,  then  later  removed  to  Johnson, 
Vermont,  when  he  remained  until  a  few 
years  before  his  death.  These  last  years 
were  spent  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 
where  he  died  about  1892.  He  married 
Lucy  Perkins. 

(VII)  Albert  A.  Leland,  son  of  Charles 
and  Lucy  (Perkins)  Leland,  was  born  in 
Lowell,  Vermont,  in  January,  1832.  He 
began  life  as  a  farmer,  but  possessing 
much  originality  and  considerable  busi- 
ness ability,  he  saw  the  possibilities  in 
the  marketing  of  potato  starch.  He  man- 
ufactured this  product  for  many  years, 
beginning  in  a  small  way,  and  developing 
the  business  until  in  his  later  years  it 
attained  a  substantial  volume.  He  lived 
in  Johnson,  Vermont,  during  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  He  was  a  broad-minded 
and  public-spirited  man,  always  bearing 
his  share  in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  and 
held  numerous  town  offices.  He  was  a 
Republican  by  political  affiliation,  but 
held  the  tenets  of  the  party  subservient  to 
the  public  good.  On  account  of  physical 
disability  he  was  not  permitted  to  serve 
in  the  Civil  War,  although  eager  to  enlist. 
He  married,  April  25,  i860,  Mary  Esther 
Benton,  born  April  2,  1839,  daughter  of 
Reuben  C.  and  Almira  (Fletcher)  Benton 
(see  Benton  VII).  They  were  the  parents 


126 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  eight  children,  of  whom  five  grew  to  ma- 
turity :  Frederic  Adams,  of  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  now  deceased ;  Lucy  Lou- 
ise, of  East  Fairfield,  Connecticut ;  George 
Benton,  of  whom  further ;  Thomas  Henry, 
of  Waterbury,  Vermont;  Mary  Elmira, 
who  married  Professor  Warner  J.  Morse, 
Ph.  D.,  of  the  University  of  Maine ;  Clar- 
ence Albert ;  Helen  Douglas,  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1880,  died  October  12,  1882;  Clifford 
M.,  born  July  4,  1882,  who  enlisted  in  the 
Canadian  regulars  for  the  war  in  Europe, 
and  was  killed  June  28,  1917.  The  fam- 
ily have  always  been  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational church. 

(VIII)  George  Benton  Leland,  second 
son,  and  third  child  of  Albert  A.  and  Mary 
Esther  (Benton)  Leland,  and  general 
manager  of  The  Stamford  Gas  and  Elec- 
tric Company,  was  born  in  Johnson,  Ver- 
mont, December  14,  1870.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town.  He  worked  on  the  home 
farm  in  his  youth,  then  went  into  the  shop 
in  Erving,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
gained  the  experience  which  was  to  be- 
come the  stepping-stone  to  substantial 
success.  From  there  he  went  to  the  Con- 
necticut Industrial  School  for  Girls,  at 
Middletown,  as  chief  engineer  and  elec- 
trician. Later  he  accepted  the  very  im- 
portant position  of  day  engineer  of  the 
Middletown  Electric  Light  Company,  ris- 
ing finally  to  the  position  of  chief  engineer. 
He  was  with  this  company  for  something 
over  seven  years ;  then  an  opportunity 
presented  itself  which  would  appeal  to 
any  live,  aggressive  man.  He  became  as- 
sociated with  Sanderson  &  Porter,  and 
superintended  the  erection  of  their  gen- 
erating plant  in  Far  Rockaway,  Long 
Island.  For  three  years  he  was  chief 
engineer  of  this  splendidly  equipped, 
modern  plant,  then  came  to  Norwich, 
Connecticut,  where  he  became  superin- 
tendent of  the  Norwich  Gas  and  Electric 


Company.  The  next  step  was  to  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  where  he  accepted  a 
position  similar  to  that  in  Norwich.  Mr. 
Leland  has  again  assumed  the  head  of 
the  business  in  which  he  is  interested,  and 
is  now  general  manager  of  the  Stamford 
Gas  and  Electric  Company.  He  enjoys 
the  confidence  and  good  will  of  every 
member  of  the  executive  and  working 
forces,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  big 
men  in  the  world  of  production  in  this 
section.  He  is  a  thoroughgoing  business 
man,  keenly  interested  in  every  phase  of 
the  work  under  his  charge,  but  he  is  also 
a  wholesouled  man  among  men,  with  a 
never-failing  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
men  who  do  this  work.  This  sentiment 
was  well  expressed  in  "The  Story  of 
Electricity"  (p.  276),  as  follows: 

The  wholehearted  and  often  disinterested  serv- 
ice that  he  has  given  to  his  profession  has  made 
his  name  familiar  to  the  fraternity  at  large  and 
in  particular  to  the  lighting  division  of  the  indus- 
try. He  has  been  especially  noted  for  his  work 
in  New  England,  as  well  as  in  Connecticut,  having 
been  zealous  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  The 
New  England  Section  of  The  National  Electric 
Light  Association,  in  addition  to  his  strictly  pro- 
fessional duties.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  for  several  years,  and  was 
president  of  the  section  during  the  year  1919.  He 
has  also  been  at  the  head  of  two  of  the  State 
electrical  associations. 

Mr.  Leland  is  a  busy  man,  taking  little 
time  for  recreation,  and  his  hours  of  lei- 
sure are  very  frequently  taken  up  by 
study  and  research  along  electrical  lines. 
He  is  an  associate  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers. 

Mr.  Leland  married  Nellie  L.  Griswold, 
daughter  of  LeRoy  S.  Griswold,  of  Hyde 
Park,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Leland's  par- 
ents, in  November,  1919,  celebrated  the 
fifty-ninth  anniversary  of  their  marriage, 
and  were  felicitated  by  all  their  friends 
because  of  the  fact  that  all  their  children 
are  living.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leland  are  the 


127 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


parents  of  three  children :  Marian  Esther, 
born  September  16,  1894;  Harold  M.,  born 
November  28,  1897,  died  in  Far  Rocka- 
way,  August  1,  1901,  and  buried  in  John- 
son, Vermont ;  and  Ruth  Laura,  born 
June  23,  1903.  The  family  is  prominent 
in  all  movements  that  make  for  social  and 
civic  progress. 

(The  Benton  Line). 

(I)  Andrew  Benton,  the  immigrant 
ancestor  of  this  family  in  America,  was 
born  in  England  in  1620,  and  died  July 
31,  1683,  in  Hartford,  Connecticut.  About 
1630  he  came  to  New  England,  it  is  be- 
lieved with  the  Waterford  settlers.  He 
was  a  first  settler  of  Milford,  Connecticut, 
and  in  1639  was  granted  three  acres  of 
land  in  that  township.  He  removed  to 
Hartford  about  1660.  He  married  (first) 
Hannah  Stocking,  daughter  of  George 
Stocking,  a  first  settler  of  Hartford ;  and 
(second)  Anne  Cole,  of  Hartford. 

(II)  Samuel  Benton,  son  of  Andrew 
and  Hannah  (Stocking)  Benton,  was 
born  in  Milford,  Connecticut,  August  15, 
1658,  and  died  in  Hartford,  April  10,  1746. 
He  was  an  original  proprietor  of  the  set- 
tlement of  Harwinton,  Connecticut.  He 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  community, 
a  leader  in  the  public  interests,  and  am- 
bitious and  industrious  in  his  personal 
affairs.  He  was  honored  with  various 
public  offices,  and  became  a  large  land 
owner.  He  married  Sarah  Chatterton, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Chatter- 
ton,  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  born 
July  19,  1661. 

(III)  Deacon  Jacob  Benton,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Sarah  (Chatterton)  Benton, 
was  born  September  21,  1698,  and  bap- 
tized the  26th.  He  died  in  Harwinton, 
November  23,  1761.  He  also  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  there,  and  lived  there  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  married  Eliz- 
abeth   Hinsdell,    born   January    9,     1703, 


daughter     of      Barnabas     and      Martha 
(Smith)  Hinsdell. 

(IV)  Jacob  (2)  Benton,  son  of  Deacon 
Jacob  (1)  and  Elizabeth  (Hinsdell)  Ben- 
ton, was  born  January  8,  1729,  and  died 
January  13,  1807.  Attracted  by  the  pros- 
perity of  Hartford,  then  fast  becoming  an 
important  trade  center,  Jacob  Benton  re- 
moved thence,  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  Hartford.  He  married  Han- 
nah Slade,  who  died  July  21,  1805. 

(V)  Samuel  Slade  Benton,  son  of  Jacob 
(2)  and  Hannah  (Slade)  Benton,  was 
born  April  22,  1777,  and  was  baptized  in 
the  October  following.  He  died  December 
15,  1857.  The  pioneer  spirit  of  his  ances- 
tors revived  in  him  with  renewed 
strength,  and  he  sought  a  home  farther 
inland,  going  into  Vermont  and  building 
his  own  log  cabin  there.  This  was  in 
1801.  Later  he  removed  to  St.  Johns- 
bury,  and  owned  a  farm.  In  July,  1841, 
he  sold  this  farm  to  the  Messrs.  Fair- 
banks, who  built  their  scale  factory  on 
its  site.  Samuel  Slade  Benton  married 
Esther  Prouty,  of  Charlestown,  New 
Hampshire,  who  was  born  April  23,  1782, 
and  died  March  14,  i860. 

(VI)  Reuben  Clark  Benton,  son  of 
Samuel  Slade  and  Esther  (Prouty)  Ben- 
ton, and  their  first  child,  was  born  in 
Waterford,  Vermont,  in  the  log  cabin 
built  by  his  father.  He  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm,  where  he  worked  with  his 
father,  living  the  normal,  healthy  life  of 
the  farmer  boy.  He  developed  a  very 
strong,  sturdy  physique,  and  managed  to 
acquire  a  good  education,  continuing  to 
go  to  school  when  opportunity  offered, 
until  he  was  well  past  his  majority.  He 
then  took  up  seriously  the  study  of  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  185 1.  He 
became  a  man  of  much  more  than  local 
importance.  He  enjoyed  the  greatest 
confidence  of  his  fellow-townspeople, 
which    was    richly    deserved.     He   filled 


128 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


many  public  offices  with  honor  and  dis- 
tinction. He  served  as  selectman,  justice 
of  the  peace,  was  representative  to  the 
General  Assembly,  associate  judge  of  the 
Essex  County  Court,  State's  attorney, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in 

1856.  Late  in  life  he  went  West,  where 
he  died  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  October  1 1, 

1857.  He  married,  in  Haverhill,  New 
Hampshire,  April  9,  1829,  Almira 
Fletcher,  born  October  13,  1801,  in  Wa- 
terford,  Vermont,  who  died  August  29, 
1873,  in  Johnson,  Vermont,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  Ames  (Billings) 
Fletcher  (see  Fletcher  VII).  Mrs.  Ben- 
ton was  a  school  teacher  before  her  mar- 
riage, a  woman  of  brilliant  mentality,  and 
her  devoted  interest  in  her  husband's 
work  was  most  helpful  to  him  in  his 
career.  She  was  a  descendant  of  the 
Fletcher  family  of  Concord,  Massachu- 
setts. 

(VII)  Mary  Esther  Benton,  daughter 
of  Reuben  Clark  and  Almira  (Fletcher) 
Benton,  was  born  April  2,  1839,  *n  Water- 
ford,  Vermont,  and  died  October  8,  1885, 
in  Johnson,  Vermont.  She  married,  April 
25,  i860,  Albert  A.  Leland  (see  Leland 
VII). 

(The  Fletcher  Line). 

(I)  Robert  Fletcher,  the  founder  of 
this  branch  of  the  family  in  America,  was 
born  in  England,  about  1592.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  1630,  and  settled  in 
Concord.  He  was  wealthy  and  influen- 
tial, a  man  of  mental  power  and  com- 
manding presence,  and  held  many  public 
offices. 

(II)  Francis  Fletcher,  son  of  Robert 
Fletcher,  was  born  in  Concord,  in  1636. 
He  was  made  freeman  in  1677,  and  ad- 
mitted to  the  church  the  same  year.  He 
also  became  a  prominent  man  in  the 
community,  and  a  large  land  owner. 
He   married,   August    1,    1656,   Elizabeth 

Conn— 8— 9  I 


Wheeler,  daughter  of  George  and  Kath- 
erine  Wheeler,  who  died  June  14,  1704. 

(III)  Corporal  Samuel  Fletcher,  son  of 
Francis  and  Elizabeth  (Wheeler)  Flet- 
cher, was  born  August  6,  1657.  From  his 
rank  it  is  evident  that  he  served  in  the 
militia.  He  was  also  selectman  and  town 
clerk.     He   died   October  23,    1744.     He 

married,  April  15,  1682,  Elizabeth , 

and  she  survived  him  but  three  days. 

(IV)  Timothy  Fletcher,  son  of  Cor- 
poral Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Fletcher,  was 
born  August  28,  1704,  in  Concord.  He 
served  in  the  French  and  Indian  War 
with  courage  and  gallantry,  and  all  his 
life  was  a  great  hunter.  His  wife's 
Christian  name  was  Elizabeth. 

(V)  James  Fletcher,  son  of  Timothy 
and  Elizabeth  Fletcher,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  1734.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
hardihood,  of  venturesome  spirit,  and  fond 
of  travel.  In  1755  he  was  a  member  of 
Captain  Osgood's  Nova  Scotia  expedi- 
tion. 

(VI)  Samuel  (2)  Fletcher,  son  of 
James  Fletcher,  was  born  about  1750,  in 
Chesterfield,  New  Hampshire,  and  died 
in  East  Montpelier,  Vermont,  in  1831. 
He  made  an  honorable  record  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Waterford,  Vermont,  and  there 
he  served  as  constable.  He  married  (sec- 
ond) Mrs.  Mary  Ames  Billings. 

(VII)  Almira  Fletcher,  daughter  of 
Samuel  (2)  and  Mary  Ames  (Billings) 
Fletcher,  became  the  wife  of  Reuben 
Clark  Benton,  the  Vermont  attorney  and 
State  Senator  (see  Benton  VI). 


DUREY,  John  C, 

Lawyer. 

Among  the  younger  generation  of  at- 
torneys now  practicing  at  the  Fairfield 
county  bar,  the  man  whose  name  stands 

2Q 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


at  the  head  of  this  article  is  an  acknowl- 
edged leader. 

Thomas  H.  (2)  Durey,  son  of  Thomas 
H.  (1),  and  father  of  John  C.  Durey,  was 
born  November  21,  1838,  at  Bethersden, 
County  Kent,  England,  where  his  ances- 
tors had  resided  continuously  since  the 
settlement  there  of  John  Durey,  who 
died  in  1615,  and  whose  grave  in  the 
family  burial  ground  is  still  extant. 
When  four  years  of  age,  Thomas  H.  (2) 
Durey  came  with  his  widowed  mother  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  in  Saybrook, 
Ohio,  where  other  members  of  the  family 
had  located.  After  receiving  an  education 
in  the  public  schools,  he  entered  the  mer- 
cantile business  to  which  he  devoted  him- 
self principally  until  his  death.  He  was 
a  chess  player  of  note. 

Mr.  Durey  married  Mary  Julissa  Jenks, 
and  of  the  five  children  born  to  them  four 
attained  maturity :  George,  died  unmar- 
ried ;  Ethel,  married  Frank  A.  Frisbie,  of 
Saybrook,  and  both  she  and  her  husband 
are  now  deceased;  Thomas  H.,  of  Cleve- 
land ;  and  John  C,  mentioned  below.  Mr. 
Durey  was  a  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church.    He  died  in  1887. 

John  C.  Durey,  son  of  Thomas  H.  (2) 
and  Mary  Julissa  (Jenks)  Durey,  was 
born  October  12,  1880,  in  Saybrook,  Ohio, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place  and  at  the 
Geneva  Institute.  After  graduating  from 
the  latter  institution,  he  matriculated  at 
the  Law  School  of  Yale  University,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  cum  laude  in  the 
year  1906.  While  at  Yale  Mr.  Durey 
served  for  two  years  on  the  editorial  board 
of  the  "Yale  Law  Journal,"  and  was  a 
member  of  the  fraternities  of  Corbey 
Court,  Phi  Delta  Phi  and  Chi  Tau  Kappa. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Connecticut  bar 
in  1906. 

Mr.  Durey  began  his  professional  ca- 
reer in  Stamford,  becoming  associated 
with    John    E.    Keeler,    with    whom    he 


afterward  entered  into  partnership  under 
the  firm  name  of  Keeler  &  Durey.  The 
partnership  was  maintained  until  Mr. 
Keeler's  elevation  to  the  judiciary.  Since 
that  time  Mr.  Durey  has  continued  the 
practice  of  the  law  under  his  own  name, 
acquiring  a  lucrative  and  constantly  in- 
creasing clientele,  and  building  up  a  rep- 
utation which  rests  on  the  sure  basis  of 
native  ability,  thorough  and  comprehen- 
sive equipment,  and  unremitting  devotion 
to  duty. 

Mr.  Durey  is  general  counsel  for  the 
First-Stamford  National  Bank,  a  recent 
consolidation  of  the  old  First  National 
and  Stamford  National  banks,  and  is  also 
attorney  for  the  Citizens'  Savings  Bank, 
the  Stamford  Water  Company,  the  West- 
ern Connecticut  Title  and  Mortgage  Com- 
pany, and  other  important  interests.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  American  Bar  Associa- 
tion, and  of  the  Character  Committee  of 
the  Fairfield  County  Bar;  is  a  member  of 
the  board  of  governors  of  the  Suburban 
Club ;  and  belongs  to  the  Woodway 
Country  Club,  the  Stamford  Y'acht  Club, 
and  the  Yale  Club  of  New  York.  He  is 
treasurer  of  the  Stamford  Day  Nursery 
and  one  of  its  board  of  trustees.  He  at- 
tends St.  John's  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  and  serves  as  one  of  its  officers. 

Mr.  Durey's  record  furnishes  conclu- 
sive evidence  of  his  wisdom  in  choosing 
to  devote  himself  to  the  profession  of  the 
law.  He  has  proved  that  he  possesses  the 
judicial  mind  and  also  that  he  is  endowed 
with  the  personal  qualities  necessary  to 
insure  a  successful  career  at  the  bar.  In 
the  years  to  come  his  name  will  undoubt- 
edly be  inscribed  with  honor  in  the  legal 
annals  of  his  countv  and  State. 


RICE,  Watson  Emmons, 

Physician,  Legislator. 

For  many  generations  descendants  of 
the  Rice  family  have  been  prominent  in 


13c 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


the  annals  of  New  England.  Members  of 
this  family  have  been  found  in  the  pro- 
fessions of  medicine  and  the  ministry  in 
practically  every  generation.  They  have 
been  distinguished  for  their  earnest  adher- 
ence to  high  ideals  and  their  advocacy  of 
all  that  makes  for  good  citizenship.  More 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  Dr.  Wat- 
son E.  Rice,  a  worthy  representative  of 
this  ancient  family,  settled  in  Stamford, 
where  he  has  since  engaged  in  practice 
as  a  physician.  During  the  intervening 
years  Dr.  Rice  has  performed  his  share 
in  upholding  the  honorable  record  and 
prestige  of  the  family  name. 

As  far  back  as  1073  record  of  the  name 
is  found,  at  which  time  it  is  spelled  Rhys. 
It  is  of  Celtic  derivation,  signifying  ar- 
dour. This  meaning  illustrates  an  ancient 
custom  of  deriving  surnames  from  some 
personal  quality  or  appearance.  The  lo- 
cation of  the  ancestral  homes,  as  well  as 
personal  occupation,  also  served  to  desig- 
nate individuals  at  an  early  period. 

(I)  Edmund  Rice,  ancestor,  born  about 
1594,  came  from  Barkhamstead,  Hertford 
county,  England,  and  settled  in  Sudbury, 
Massachusetts,  in  1638-39.  He  shared  in 
the  three  divisions  of  land  in  1639.  He 
was  a  well  known,  influential  citizen  of 
Sudbury,  and  served  as  proprietor  and 
selectman.  His  wife,  Tamazine,  died  in 
Sudbury,  June  13,  1654;  he  died  at  Marl- 
boro, May  3,  1663,  and  was  buried  at 
Sudbury.  They  were  the  parents  of  a 
son,  Henry,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Henry  Rice,  son  of  Edmund  and 
Tamazine  Rice,  was  born  about  1617.  He 
was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1658,  and  mar- 
ried, February  1,  1643,  Elizabeth  Moore, 
who  died  August  3,  1705.  He  died  at 
Framingham,  February  10,  1710-11.  They 
were  the  parents  of  David,  of  whom  fur- 
ther. 

(III)  David  Rice,  second  son  of  Henry 
and   Elizabeth    (Moore)   Rice,  was  born 


December  27,  1659,  and  died  October  16, 
1723.  He  was  a  founder  and  deacon  of 
the  Framingham  Church  in  1701.  He 
married,  April  7,  1687,  Hannah  Walker, 
of  Sudbury,  born  in  1669,  died  December 

18,  1704,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
Walker,  of  Sudbury  and  Framingham. 
They  were  the  parents  of  Bezaleel,  of 
whom  further. 

(IV)  Bezaleel  Rice,  son  of  David  and 
Hannah  (Walker)  Rice,  was  in  the  serv- 
ice of  Clark's  Company  from  Framingham 
in  1725.  He  was  a  physician,  and  also 
served  as  selectman  in  1742.  He  mar- 
ried, June  23,  1720,  Sarah  Buckminster, 
of  Framingham. 

(V)  David  Rice,  second  son  of  Beza- 
leel and  Sarah  (Buckminster)  Rice,  was 
born  September  17,  1723,  died  in  March, 
1802,  at  Framingham.  He  married,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1750,  Hannah  Winch,  who  died 
in  January,  1816.  Their  eighth  child  was 
Dr.  Nathan  Rice,  of  whom  further. 

(VI)  Dr.  Nathan  Rice,  son  of  David 
and  Hannah  (Winch)  Rice,  was  baptized 
April  9,  1769,  and  died  February  23,  1814. 
He  was  a  physician,  and  settled  at  Way- 
land.  He  married,  September  29,  1796, 
Polly  Eaton,  born  May  8,  1778,  died  July 

19,  1818,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Stacey)  Eaton,  of  Framingham,  a  de- 
scendant of  Jonas  Eaton,  early  in  Read- 
ing, Massachusetts.  Their  children  were: 
Calvin,  Marshall,  Mary,  Gardner,  of 
whom  further ;  and  Nathan. 

(VII)  Rev.  Gardner  Rice,  third  son  of 
Dr.  Nathan  and  Polly  (Eaton)  Rice,  was 
born  December  13,  1805.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  Wesleyan  University,  at  Mid- 
dletown,  Connecticut,  in  the  early  thirties, 
and  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  never 
accepted  a  settled  pastorate,  feeling  that 
his  gift  was  that  of  a  teacher,  but  dur- 
ing hit,  long  and  active  career  he  con- 
stantly sought  out  small  churches  in  rural 


131 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


communities  that  were  unable  to  main- 
tain settled  pastors,  a  service  in  the  doing 
of  which  he  must  find  his  reward,  and  he 
had  the  gratification  of  seeing  a  number  of 
well  established  churches  develop  from 
his  missionary  efforts.  Mr.  Rice  estab- 
lished and  conducted  academies  in  the 
towns  of  Holliston,  Salem  and  Shrews- 
bury, Massachusetts.  What  he  sought  to 
do,  what  alone  satisfied  him,  was  not 
merely  to  increase  a  young  man's  store 
of  information,  but  to  develop  his  char- 
acter and  make  a  Christian  man  of  him, 
to  teach  him  how  the  learning  he  gained 
might  be  used  in  the  work  of  life,  and 
that  it  was  of  small  value  unless  it  were 
so  used.  He  taught  the  lesson  and  im- 
portance of  life ;  he  made  his  students 
grasp  the  significance  of  existence,  the 
responsibility  that  rested  upon  them,  the 
duty  and  the  glory  of  doing  their  part 
to  help  and  benefit  the  generation  in 
which  they  lived,  and  the  failure  and  ig- 
nominy of  leading  listless,  heedless,  un- 
important lives.  As  a  result  of  his  pre- 
cepts, supported  by  an  unusually  con- 
sistent Christian  example,  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  nearly  all  his  pupils 
converted.  Who  can  tell  the  far-reaching 
effects  of  such  a  devoted  man?  His  in- 
fluence will  go  on  and  on  in  ever  widening 
circles  to  bless  generations  yet  to  come. 
Mr.  Rice  married,  May  25,  1835,  Sarah 
Morse,  born  September  2,  1809,  in  Leo- 
minister,  Massachusetts,  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph and  Sukey  (Dirroll)  Morse,  de- 
scendant of  Anthony  Morse,  settler  at 
Newbury,  Massachusetts.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children:  1.  Milton  G., 
born  August  17,  1836,  died  July  17,  1842. 
2.  Emery  H.,  born  May  3,  1838.  3.  Mar- 
shall N.,  born  May  9,  1840.  4.  Wilbur  H., 
born  January  10,  1842.  5.  Sarah  E.,  died 
young.  6.  Watson  E.,  of  further  men- 
tion.     7.  Milman    B.,    died    young.      8. 


Wilmot  B.,  born  November  8,   1850.     9. 
Virgil,  born  August  23,  1854. 

(VIII)  Watson  Emmons  Rice,  son  of 
Rev.  Gardner  and  Sarah  (Morse)  Rice, 
was  born  December  15,  1848,  at  Shrews- 
bury, Massachusetts.  His  education  was 
mainly  obtained  under  the  able  precep- 
torship  of  his  father,  and  his  youth  was 
spent  in  the  various  towns  where  the  Rev. 
Gardner  Rice  conducted  his  schools.  Sub- 
sequently, Dr.  Rice  prepared  himself  for 
teaching  and  for  six  years  followed  this 
calling  in  his  native  State,  and  also  in 
Parkersburg,  West  Virginia.  While  a 
resident  of  the  latter  town  he  became  in- 
terested in  the  medical  profession,  and 
under  Dr.  William  Gilman  he  studied  and 
prepared  to  enter  the  University  of  Mich- 
igan, at  Ann  Arbor.  He  graduated  in 
1872,  and  part  of  the  same  year  practiced 
in  Plymouth,  Michigan.  Returning  East 
he  located  at  North  Grafton,  where  for 
twenty  years  he  was  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  and  among  the  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  the  place.  The  West 
again  called  him  and  he  spent  the  winter 
of  1891-92  in  Seattle,  Washington.  In 
the  spring  of  1892  he  came  to  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  where  he  has  remained  to 
the  present  time. 

Dr.  Rice  has  won  many  friends  for  him- 
self, and  he  possesses  the  art  of  keeping 
a  friend,  which  is  better  still.  He  has 
always  been  of  a  modest,  retiring  nature, 
and  does  not  seek  public  attention  of  any 
kind,  although  in  1898  he  represented 
Stamford  in  the  General  Assembly,  and 
was  reelected  for  a  second  term  of  two 
years.  He  served  on  Humane  Institu- 
tions and  Public  Lands  committees. 

While  in  the  Legislature,  Dr.  Rice  tried 
to  arouse  interest  in  a  project  to  estab- 
lish a  State  farm  where  inebriates  and 
other  ne'er-do-wells  might  be  sent  in  hope 
of  making  men  of  them.     He  recognized 


132 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


that  more  evil  than  good    comes    from     late  Husted  W.  Hoyt  on  his  death.  Since 


sending  such  individuals  to  the  usual 
penal  institutions.  His  plan  was  to  in- 
crease the  length  of  the  sentence  on  each 
recurring  commitment  so  that  incurables 
would  ultimately  be  kept  on  the  farm 
under  healthful  conditions  and  helpful 
environment.  Dr.  Rice's  idea  was  too 
advanced  for  the  time,  but  he  has  had 
the  pleasure  since  then  of  seeing  the  plan 
partially  put  into  operation.  Dr.  Rice  has 
ever  been  interested  in  educational  mat- 
ters, and  has  served  twenty-four  years  as 
a  member  of  the  School  Board,  having 
been  its  chairman  for  fourteen  years.  A 
new  school,  containing  twenty-four 
rooms,  in  Stamford,  has  recently  been 
named  in  his  honor,  the  Rice  School.  He 
is  on  the  staff  of  the  Stamford  Hospital, 
and  visiting  physician  of  the  Children's 
Home. 

Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Union 
Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; 
Rittenhouse  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
sons, of  Stamford ;  Hiram  Council  and 
Worcester  County  Council  of  Worcester ; 
Rose  Croix,  of  Worcester;  Pyramid 
Shrine,  at  Bridgeport. 


McNALL,  George  Gordon, 

Lawyer,  Man  of  Affairs. 

,  George  Gordon  McNall  was  born  in 
Utica,  Oneida  county,  New  York,  June  2, 
1857,  the  son  of  John  Alexander  and  Mary 
(Tilden)  McNall.  He  removed  to  Green- 
wich in  boyhood,  was  educated  in  the 
local  schools,  became  a  clerk  in  the  town 
clerk's  office,  and  was  elected  town  clerk 
when  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  stud- 
ied law  under  the  preceptorship  of  Myron 
L.  Mason,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1883,  and  subsequently  elected  judge  of 
probate.  On  the  establishment  of  the 
Borough  Court  in  Greenwich,  he  was 
appointed  deputy  judge  and  succeeded  the 


his  retirement  from  that  office  he  has  de- 
voted his  time  entirely  to  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  He  is  connected  with 
many  of  the  industrial  enterprises  in  his 
town,  and  is  a  director  of  and  attorney 
for  the  Greenwich  National  Bank  and  the 
Maher  Brothers'  Corporation.  In  religion 
he  is  a  member  of  Christ  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  prominent  in  Masonic 
circles  in  Connecticut,  having  been  elected 
grand  master  in  1899. 

On  April  24,  1899,  Mr.  McNall  married 
Mrs.  Emma  F.  McNall. 


PENFIELD,  William  W.,  Laveme  H., 

Manufacturers. 

The  first  of  the  name  of  Penfield  in 
Connecticut  was  William  Penfield,  who 
was  early  settled  in  Middletown,  in  1663. 
Since  that  time  there  have  been  many 
bearing  the  name  throughout  the  State 
engaged  in  the  professional,  the  public 
and  business  life  of  their  respective 
communities.  They  have  been  among 
the  useful  and  upright  citizens,  and  prom- 
inent among  them  are  William  W.  Pen- 
field  and  his  son,  Laverne  H.  Penfield, 
manufacturers  of  Stamford. 

The  family  from  which  they  are  de- 
scended was  long  settled  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  and  it  was  there  that  the 
great-grandfather  of  Laverne  H.  Penfield, 
William  Barnes  Penfield,  lived.  The  lat- 
ter was  a  sea  captain,  and  the  Christian 
name  of  his  wife  was  Elvira. 

William  Barnes  Penfield,  grandfather 
of  Laverne  H.  Penfield,  was  born  in 
New  Haven,  and  died  March  17,  1914, 
aged  seventy-four  years.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools,  and  at  an  early 
age  went  to  sea,  making  voyages  to  for- 
eign ports,  especially  the  West  Indies. 
After  a  few  years  he  gave  up  the  sea  and 
took  up  cabinet-making  in  Fair  Haven, 


133 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


in  the  plant  of  the  Fair  Haven  Extension 
Table  Company.  Mr.  Penfield  was  with 
them  a  good  many  years,  until  the  busi- 
ness was  abandoned,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  New  York,  New  Haven  & 
Hartford  Railroad  Company  in  its  repair 
shop,  and  was  with  them  as  long  as  he 
lived.  Mr.  Penfield  was  a  member  of  the 
old  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  No.  6, 
and  when  the  permanent  department  was 
organized  in  Fair  Haven,  he  became  a 
call  man  for  a  short  time.  He  married 
Josephine  Davis,  daughter  of  Captain 
John  Davis,  of  New  Haven;  they  were 
members  of  St.  James'  Episcopal  Church, 
of  Fair  Haven.  Of  their  two  children, 
William  W.  was  the  one  who  grew  to 
maturity. 

William  W.  Penfield,  son  of  William 
Barnes  and  Josephine  (Davis)  Penfield, 
was  born  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
July  20,  1861,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  there.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  tool-maker  and  machinist,  and 
has  worked  in  various  shops  in  New 
Haven,  Waterbury  and  New  Britain,  get- 
ting valuable  experience  which  has  been 
of  untold  value  to  him  in  later  years. 
For  seventeen  years  he  was  with  the 
Traut  &  Hine  Manufacturing  Company 
of  New  Britain,  much  of  this  time  hold- 
ing a  position  as  foreman.  In  1916  Mr. 
Penfield  engaged  in  business  on  his  own 
account  in  Stamford,  and  on  August  1, 
1918,  the  business  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  William  W.  Penfield,  Inc., 
with  W.  W.  Penfield  as  president  and 
treasurer,  and  L.  H.  Penfield  as  vice- 
president.  The  product  of  manufacture  is 
snap  fasteners  for  silk  gloves  and  other 
brass  novelties,  and  this  is  sold  direct  to 
glove  manufacturers  and  manufacturers 
of  other  lines  into  whose  products  the 
various  things  made  by  the  Penfield  plant 
enter. 

Mr.  Penfield  is  a  member  of  Harmony 


Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; 
Washington  Commandery,  Knights  Tem- 
plar, of  Hartford ;  Sphinx  Temple,  of 
Hartford,  and  Connecticut  Consistory,  of 
Norwich. 

Mr.  Penfield  married  Sarah  Elliott, 
daughter  of  James  Elliott,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  two  sons :  Leroy,  now  de- 
ceased, left  one  child,  Barbara  Elliott 
Penfield ;  Laverne  H.,  of  further  mention. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Penfield  are  regular  at- 
tendants of  St.  Mark's  Episcopal  Church 
of  New  Britain. 

Laverne  Howard  Penfield,  son  of  Wil- 
liam W.  and  Sarah  (Elliott)  Penfield,  was 
born  in  Waterbury,  December  25,  1891, 
and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that 
city  and  in  New  Britain.  After  attending 
the  high  school,  he  worked  under  his 
father  in  the  plant  of  the  Traut  &  Hine 
Manufacturing  Company,  in  New  Britain, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  associated 
with  him.  On  April  15,  1918,  Mr.  Pen- 
field  entered  the  Franklin  Union  Train- 
ing School  in  Boston  and  pursued  a  course 
in  aeroplane  and  tractor  mechanics.  The 
following  July  he  left  there  and  went  to 
Camp  Jackson,  South  Carolina,  where 
after  two  weeks  he  sailed  for  France. 
After  arriving  in  France  he  joined  the 
32nd  Division,  121st  Field  Artillery  Head- 
quarters Company,  remaining  with  them 
until  the  armistice  was  signed.  Subse- 
quently, Mr.  Penfield  was  transferred  to 
the  Central  Records  Office  of  Bruges, 
Belgium,  as  a  courier  between  that  point 
and  London.  Each  trip  he  spent  three 
days  in  traveling  and  three  days  in  Lon- 
don, thus  giving  him  an  opportunity  to 
see  the  English  metropolis.  Mr.  Penfield 
has  many  unusual  and  interesting  inci- 
dents to  tell  of  his  days  as  courier  and  of 
the  many  interesting  sights  he  saw  be- 
tween posts.  On  July  4,  1919,  he  sailed 
from  Brest  for  the  United  States,  and  was 
discharged  from  Camp  Mills  on  the  24th 


134 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  the  same  month.  After  his  discharge 
Mr.  Penfield  returned  to  Stamford  and 
took  up  his  duties  as  vice-president  of  the 
Traut  &  Hine  Manufacturing  Company, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  looking  after  his  business  in- 
terests. 

His  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  the 
Masonic  order,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  of  the  American  Legion. 


FROST,  General  Russell, 

Lawyer,  Active  in  World  War. 

For  many  centuries  back  in  English 
history  there  is  found  mention  of  the 
Frost  family.  There  was  a  Henry  Frost 
of  Cambridge,  who  founded  the  hospital 
of  the  Brothers  of  St.  John  in  1135,  out 
of  which  grew  St.  John's  College,  Univer- 
sity of  Cambridge. 

(I)  The  ancestor  of  General  Russell 
Frost's  branch  of  the  family,  Edmund 
Frost,  was  born  in  Hartest,  County  Suf- 
folk, England,  about  1600,  a  son  of  Rev. 
John  Frost,  a  non-conformist  minister. 
On  October  16,  1634,  Edmund  Frost  with 
his  wife  Thomasine,  and  infant  son  John, 
sailed  for  America  on  the  "Great  Hope," 
which  was  shipwrecked  off  Great  Yar- 
mouth, England.  Fortunately,  all  the  pas- 
sengers were  saved.  Again  they  sailed, 
August  10,  1635,  on  the  ship  "Defense," 
arriving  the  following  October  at  Boston. 
Edmund  Frost  settled  at  Cambridge, 
where  he  was  stationed  a  freeman,  and 
died  July  17,  1672.  His  will  is  on  record 
there.  In  Cambridge,  Edmund  Frost  was 
a  ruling  elder  of  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard's 
church. 

(II)  Thomas  Frost,  eighth  son  of  Ed- 
mund and  Thomasine  Frost,  was  born  in 
Cambridge,  about  1647.  He  served  as  a 
private  from  Cambridge  with  Captain  Jo- 
seph  Sill's  company  of  militia,   in  King 


Philip's  War.  In  1685  he  was  a  towns- 
man of  Sudbury;  in  1700  was  constable; 
and  in  1712,  tithing  man.  Thomas  Frost 
was  one  of  the  eighteen  original  members 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church.  He 
married,  November  12,  1678,  Widow 
Mary  (Gibbs)  Goodridge,  daughter  of 
Matthew  Gibbs. 

(III)  Samuel  Frost,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  (Gibbs-Goodridge)  Frost,  was 
born  November  23,  1686,  in  Sudbury,  and 
died  at  Framingham,  August  2,  1736.  He 
was  a  farmer,  a  member  of  the  Framing- 
ham  Church,  and  an  elder  in  that  insti- 
tution. He  married,  February  1,  1710, 
Elizabeth  Rice,  a  descendant  of  Edmund 
Rice. 

(IV)  Amasa  Frost,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Rice)  Frost,  was  born  Janu- 
ary 24,  1717,  in  Framingham,  Massachu- 
setts. He  served  in  Colonel  Joseph 
Buckmaster's  company  of  militia  from 
Framingham,  April  26,  1757,  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War.  He  was  an  early 
settler  of  Williamsburg,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  lived,  and  was  a  deacon  in  the 
church  at  its  organization  in  1771.  He 
died  there,  January  6,  1795.  He  married 
Abigail  Livermore,  of  Framingham,  a  de- 
scendant of  Joseph  Livermore. 

(V)  Deacon  John  Frost,  son  of  Amasa 
and  Abigail  (Livermore)  Frost,  was  born 
December  22,  1759,  in  Framingham,  and 
in  1765  removed  to  Hatfield,  Massachu- 
setts. He  enlisted  there  in  the  Revolu- 
tion before  sixteen  years  of  age,  and 
served  from  October,  1775,  to  July,  1778. 
He  removed  in  1823  to  Western  New 
York,  first  locating  at  Knowlesville,  and 
later  in  Evans,  Erie  county,  New  York, 
where  he  died  October  16,  1853,  m  his 
ninety-fourth  year.  He  married,  April  12, 
1781,  at  Williamsburg,  Massachusetts, 
Amy  Tenant,  born  February  22,  1761,  died 
in  1816,  at  Sandgate,  Vermont. 

(VI)  Russell    Frost,    son    of    Deacon 


135 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


John  and  Amy  (Tenant)  Frost,  was  born 
in  Williamsburg,  Massachusetts,  Febru- 
ary 7,  1787,  and  died  November  8,  1865. 
He  went  to  New  Hartford,  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  then  removed  to 
Skaneateles,  New  York,  and  bought  a 
farm.  He  built  a  home  on  the  western 
shores  of  Skaneateles  Lake.  Russell 
Frost  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  He  married,  May  II,  181 1,  at 
Sullivan,  Madison  county,  New  York, 
Louisa  Allen,  born  August  16,  1789,  died 
September  6,  1871,  daughter  of  Caleb 
Allen ;  they  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding in  1861. 

(VII)  Caleb  Allen  Frost,  son  of  Rus- 
sell and  Louisa  (Allen)  Frost,  was  born 
September  12,  1814,  in  New  Hartford, 
New  York,  and  died  in  Delhi,  New  York, 
December  30,  1892,  in  his  seventy-ninth 
year.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Central  New  York,  and  in  early 
manhood  became  a  cloth  manufacturer. 
He  was  the  owner  of  a  woolen  mill  in 
Delhi,  New  York,  and  later  a  hardware 
merchant  in  the  same  town.  About  ten 
years  before  his  death  he  retired  from 
active  business.  Mr.  Frost  was  a  Greeley 
Republican,  and  held  various  town  and 
county  offices.  While  his  religious  scru- 
ples would  not  let  him  fight  in  the  Civil 
War,  he  was  active  in  organizing  com- 
panies, and  went  to  the  front  with  them, 
performing  valuable  non-combatant  serv- 
ice. Mr.  Frost  married  Mary  Griswold, 
born  February  16,  1824,  died  December 
n,  1910,  daughter  of  Horace  and  Mary 
(Eells)  Griswold,  and  granddaughter  of 
Joshua  Griswold.  Horace  Griswold  was 
a  descendant  of  the  old  Griswold  family 
of  Connecticut,  and  among  his  ancestors 
were  the  Colonial  governors,  Edward  and 
Matthew  Griswold. 

(VIII)  General  Russell  Frost,  son  of 
Caleb  A.  and  Mary  (Griswold)  Frost,  was 
born   February   18,   1850,  in   Delhi,   New 


York.  At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  left 
school  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Delaware  National  Bank  of  Delhi ;  at 
eighteen  he  was  acting  cashier  of  that 
bank,  then  for  a  year  he  was  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  hardware  business. 
The  desire  for  a  college  education  was  so 
strong,  however,  that  he  entered  Dela- 
ware Academy  of  Delhi,  where  he  pre- 
pared for  college  entrance.  He  was 
graduated  from  Yale  College  in  the  class 
of  1877  with  high  honors,  and  having 
pursued  his  law  studies  in  Delhi,  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  New  York,  in  1879. 
He  was  assistant  to  the  district  attorney 
of  Delaware  county  for  two  years,  and 
after  three  years'  practice  in  Delhi  was 
appointed  by  the  Federal  government  a 
pension  inspector,  assigned  to  duty  as  an 
assistant  to  the  United  States  district  at- 
torneys in  cities  in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  In- 
diana, and  other  States,  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  forgery,  perjury  and  frauds  in 
connection  with  pension  cases. 

In  November,  1885,  he  resigned  from 
the  government  service  and  began  the 
practice  of  law  in  South  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut. His  practice  became  active  in 
litigated  cases ;  he  was  a  forceful  trier  of 
causes  before  the  jury,  conspicuous  as  a 
skillful  and  resourceful  cross-examiner  of 
witnesses,  and  an  eloquent  advocate.  He 
specialized  in  electric  and  street  railway 
law  and  practice ;  he  was  active  in  secur- 
ing charters  for  new  roads  and  the  exten- 
sion and  operation  of  lines  from  Norwalk 
into  and  through  adjoining  towns  in  the 
western  part  of  Fairfield  county.  He  was 
a  leader  in  the  establishment  of  the  Town 
Court  of  Norwalk,  and  the  first  judge  by 
unanimous  choice  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  that  court,  holding  the  office  for  six 
years  and  until  his  professional  practice 
compelled  his  retirement. 

In  1897  he  was  chosen  as  representative 
of    Norwalk    in    the    General    Assembly, 


136 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


where  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Cities  and  Boroughs.  He  was 
a  successful  leader  in  many  contests  aris- 
ing out  of  reports  from  this  committee. 
He  acquired  recognition  as  a  promoter  of 
good  legislation  and  a  fair  and  effective 
debater.  He  rendered  conspicuous  serv- 
ice in  doing  away  with  numerous  State 
commissions  doing  perfunctory  work,  or 
whose  duties  were  overlapping  or  cross- 
ing each  other.  As  a  result  of  his  efforts, 
commissions  were  consolidated  under 
unified  heads,  making  for  efficiency  and 
economy  in  the  administration  of  the  busi- 
ness of  the  State. 

Immediately  on  coming  to  Norwalk,  he 
became  identified  with  military  activities. 
He  served  for  six  years  as  captain  of 
Company  D,  4th  Infantry,  Connecticut 
National  Guard.  From  that  rank  he  was 
elected  by  the  officers  of  that  regiment  as 
colonel,  and  continued  in  that  command 
until  January  5,  1897,  when  he  was  pro- 
moted by  the  governor  of  the  State  as 
brigadier-general,  commanding  the  mili- 
tary forces  of  the  State.  In  1904  he  was 
selected  by  the  War  Department  of 
Washington  to  command  a  brigade  in 
General  Frederick  D.  Grant's  Division  in 
joint  military  maneuvers  by  regular  and 
State  troops  at  Manassas  and  Bull  Run, 
Virginia.  He  was  the  only  National 
Guard  officer  to  be  chosen  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  for  that  high  command.  In 
his  brigade  were  regular  army  troops,  as 
well  as  those  from  several  Northern  and 
Southern  States.  After  eleven  years' 
service  as  brigade  commander,  and  twen- 
ty-one years  of  continuous  military  serv- 
ice, he  retired  in  December,  1907. 

After  five  years  as  vice-president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  South  Norwalk, 
General  Frost  became  president  of  that 
bank  in  1895  and  held  that  office  for  seven 
years. 

General  Frost  was  made  a  Mason  in 


Delhi,  New  York,  in  1881,  and  is  still  a 
member  of  Delhi  Lodge.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  South  Norwalk  Lodge,  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ;  belongs  to 
the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution  ;  and 
is  one  of  the  council  of  the  Connecticut 
Society  of  Colonial  Wars.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  Society 
at  Yale,  of  the  University  Club  of  New 
York  City,  the  Yale  Club  of  that  city, 
and  a  former  member  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  Club  of  New  York.  General  Frost 
is  a  trustee  of  the  Norwalk  Hospital  As- 
sociation. He  belongs  to  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  South  Norwalk. 

In  the  Spanish-American  War,  Connec- 
ticut's quota  was  less  than  a  brigade,  and 
General  Frost  was  not  therefore  eligible 
for  service  in  his  rank,  but  he  was  active 
in  the  preparation  of  the  organizations 
which  went  into  that  service.  He  is  an 
honorary  member  of  McKinley  Camp, 
Spanish  War  Veterans  of  Norwalk. 

Although  disqualified  by  the  age  limit 
for  active  service  in  the  World  War,  Gen- 
eral Frost  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
promotion  of  enlistments  and  forming 
organizations  for  service.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  Mayor's  Committee  of  Safety 
appointed  to  preserve  order  and  guard 
against  attempted  injury  to  property  or 
person  by  sympathizers  with  the  enemy ; 
he  cooperated  in  this  work  with  the 
United  States  Secret  Service.  He  was 
head  of  the  Military  Department  of  the 
Fairfield  County  Mobilization  of  Re- 
sources Association,  and  traveled  over  the 
State  in  the  interest  of  that  work.  He 
was  chairman  of  the  Norwalk  War  Bu- 
reau, cooperating  with  the  State  and 
National  Councils  of  Defense.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  United  War  Work  cam- 
paign for  the  maintenance  of  the  seven 
relief  and  welfare  organizations  serving 
American  soldiers  overseas  and  in  camps 
and  cantonments  on  this  side.     In   Lib- 


137 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


erty  Loan  drives,  and  other  war  and  relief 
activities,  General  Frost  was  a  constant 
and  reliable  worker,  and  in  continuous 
demand  as  a  "four-minute"  speaker.  In 
promoting  the  local  organization  of  the 
American  Legion  he  was  active.  He  is 
an  honorary  member  of  the  Veterans  of 
Foreign  Wars ;  is  a  supporter  of  the  work 
of  the  Salvation  Army ;  and  for  five  years 
was  chairman  of  the  Norwalk  Council, 
Boy  Scouts  of  America.  He  was  the 
chairman  and  organizer  of  the  noted 
welcome-home  celebration  given  at  Nor- 
walk to  the  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines 
returning  from  the  World  War. 

General  Frost  has  active  business  in- 
terests in  New  York  City,  where  he  is 
a  director  in  several  financial  and  com- 
mercial corporations,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  State 
of  New  York. 

On  May  27,  1885,  General  Frost  was 
married  to  Augusta  Ayres  Ely,  daughter 
of  Hon.  Dudley  P.  and  Charlotte  (Phelps) 
Ely,  of  South  Norwalk.  Hon.  Dudley  P. 
Ely  was  a  prominent  banker,  with  busi- 
ness interests  in  New  York.  He  was  the 
first  mayor  of  the  city  of  South  Norwalk, 
and  its  leading  citizen.  The  Ely  family 
and  the  Phelps  family  in  the  maternal 
line  of  Mrs.  Frost  are  among  the  oldest 
in  Colonial  history.  General  and  Mrs. 
Frost  were  the  parents  of  Russell  Frost, 
3rd,  of  whom  further. 

(IX)  Russell  Frost,  3rd,  son  of  Gen- 
eral Russell  and  Augusta  A.  (Ely)  Frost, 
was  born  July  6,  1890.  He  was  graduated 
from  Yale  University  in  June,  1914,  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  is  engaged  in 
business  in  New  York  City.  He  married 
Mary  Burnell,  of  South  Norwalk,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  J.  J.  Burnell,  February  14,  1917, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children : 
Mary  Augusta,  born  November  5,  1917; 
and  Russell  Frost,  4th,  born  March  25, 
192 1. 


RUNGEE,  William  Charles, 

Lawyer,  Public  Official. 

A  leading  member  of  the  Fairfield 
county  bar  and  prominent  among  the 
legal  fraternity  of  Greenwich,  Connecti- 
cut, William  Charles  Rungee  holds  a 
place  of  well  deserved  esteem.  He  was 
born  in  New  Britain,  Connecticut,  Janu- 
ary 17,  1874,  son  of  Henry  John  and  Paul- 
ine F.  (Liefield)  Rungee,  and  grandson 
of  John  Henry  Rungee,  a  lumber  mer- 
chant. John  Henry  Rungee  was  the  fa- 
ther of  one  son,  of  further  mention ;  and 
two  daughters. 

Henry  John  Rungee,  son  of  John  Henry 
Rungee,  was  born  September  22,  1840, 
and  went  to  England  with  his  parents. 
They  remained  in  that  country,  but  when 
Henry  John  was  about  twenty  years  old, 
he  came  to  America.  Previous  to  this 
time  he  had  been  serving  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  wood-turning  trade  and  this 
occupation  was  the  one  he  followed  after 
his  arrival  in  America.  At  first  he  lo- 
cated at  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  thence 
removing  to  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 
In  the  latter  city  he  was  employed  by  the 
Hooker  Company,  an  old  established  car- 
riage manufactory,  and  also  by  the  New 
Haven  Wheel  Company.  Another  old 
firm  in  New  Haven  was  the  Bradley  Com- 
pany, and  Mr.  Rungee  was  in  charge  of 
their  woodworking  department  for  many 
years.  After  leaving  this  firm  he  estab- 
lished his  own  business  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  and  was  very  successful  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  15,  1896. 

Mr.  Rungee  married,  November  2,  1871, 
Pauline  F.  Liefield,  daughter  of  Charles 
Augustus  Liefield,  who  in  1854  located 
in  New  Haven.  At  this  time  his  daugh- 
ter, Pauline  F.,  was  one  and  one-half 
years  old ;  she  was  born  May  14,  1852. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rungee 
were :  Augustus  Henry ;  William  Charles, 


138 


n 


cU£<xs<ui 


*/-«& 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  further  mention ;  Elizabeth  N. ;  Julia 
Marie  (Yale  University,  1904,  women's 
department),  married  Professor  Charles 
P.  Sherman,  Yale,  1896,  a  member  of  the 
Yale  faculty ;  Edward  John,  graduated 
Ph.  B.  in  1900  from  Yale  University,  and 
is  now  a  resident  of  San  Diego,  Califor- 
nia ;  Benjamin  Frederick,  Yale  Univer- 
sity, 1904,  men's  department ;  Lillian  A., 
married  Charles  J.  Schliff,  of  Waterbury; 
Harry  Albert,  graduated  B.  A.  from  Yale 
University  in  1912,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  and 
Clarence  Raymond,  ex-1909,  Yale  Uni- 
versity. The  Rungee  family  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church  in  New  Haven, 
which  was  founded  by  the  Grandfather 
Liefield. 

William  Charles  Rungee,  son  of  Henry 
John  and  Pauline  F.  (Liefield)  Rungee, 
received  his  education  at  the  Sargent 
School  in  New  Haven.  For  four  years, 
from  1891  to  1895,  he  was  assistant  at  the 
Yale  Library,  and  during  this  time  con- 
tinued his  studies  under  private  tutors. 
In  1895  he  went  to  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Capewell 
Company  as  an  inspector,  remaining  for 
four  years.  He  then  entered  Yale  Law 
School,  and  in  1903  received  his  degree  of 
LL.  B.,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  the 
same  year.  For  two  years  Mr.  Rungee 
practiced  in  New  Haven,  removing  in 
1905  to  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  where  he 
was  associated  for  about  four  years  with 
the  late  Hon.  Robert  J.  Walsh,  former 
secretary  of  State  of  Connecticut.  Soon 
after  this  time,  Mr.  Rungee  opened  an 
office  of  his  own  and  has  since  been  alone 
in  practice. 

Mr.  Rungee  has  ever  been  interested  in 
public  matters,  and  has  several  times  been 
honored  with  public  office.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  represented  that  party 
in  the  Legislature,  in  191 3  serving  on  the 
Judiciary  Committee.    For  two  years  Mr. 


Rungee  was  assistant  prosecuting  attor- 
ney, and  has  been  a  delegate  to  several 
party  conventions. 

During  the  World  War  he  was  active 
in  all  of  the  "drives,"  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Legal  Advisory  Committee  of  the 
Draft  Board.  With  his  family,  Mr.  Run- 
gee attends  the  Second  Congregational 
Church,  and  is  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school ;  he  has  served  as  treasurer  of 
the  church,  and  as  clerk  of  the  council. 
The  fraternal  affiliations  of  Mr.  Rungee 
are ;  Member  of  Acacia  Lodge,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Greenwich ;  Hart- 
ford Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows ;  and  Greenwich  Lodge,  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Mr.  Rungee  married,  on  September  7, 
1908,  Adeline  Husted,  daughter  of  Mills 
Hobby  Husted,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  two  children  :  Gladys  Muriel  and  Mar- 
ion Carol,  twins,  born  December  18,  1912. 
Mrs.  Rungee  is  recording  secretary  of  the 
Israel  Putnam  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution,  through  Captain 
Mead  on  her  mother's  side  and  Mills 
Hobby  on  her  father's  side. 


FINCH,  Rev.  Wallace  H.,  D.  D., 

Clergyman,  Author,  Lecturer. 

Finch  is  an  old  New  England  family 
and  figures  quite  prominently  in  the  early 
annals  of  Connecticut  and  New  York 
State.  Finchville,  in  Orange  county,  is 
named  in  honor  of  John  Finch,  the  first 
immigrant  in  that  section,  who  came  from 
Horse  Neck,  Connecticut,  and  settled  in 
Goshen,  New  York,  the  tradition  being 
that  he  was  the  first  adult  buried  in  the 
graveyard  of  Goshen  Church.  His  son, 
James  Finch,  settled  in  town  of  Wall- 
kill,  his  farm  now  being  the  site  of  the 
village  of  Middletown.  When  marching 
to  the  ill-fated  field  of  Minisink  during  the 
Revolution,  Colonels  Phillips  and  Wisner 


139 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


with  their  troops  were  entertained  at  his 
house,  and  arrangements  made  for  him 
to  feed  the  soldiers  on  their  return  next 
day.  But  there  were  few  of  his  friends 
and  neighbors  who  returned.  He  also 
served  in  the  army.  A  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily headed  by  Ebenezer  Finch,  born  in 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  settled  in  Greene 
county,  Xew  York,  in  the  town  of  Green- 
ville. 

The  first  of  the  name  in  America  was 
Daniel  Finch,  who  came  in  Governor 
YVinthrop's  fleet  and  settled  in  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  made 
a  freeman,  May  18,  1631.  He  removed  to 
Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  where  he  was 
constable  in  1636;  removed  to  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  where  he  was  one  of  the 
original  proprietors ;  and  in  1653  to  Fair- 
field, Connecticut,  where  he  made  a  con- 
tract marriage,  December  25,  1657,  with 
Elizabeth  Thompson,  widow  of  John 
Thompson,  and  died  in  March,  1667.  His 
will  names  a  son  Nathaniel.  Daniel 
Finch  had  a  brother,  Abraham,  who  was 
killed  in  open  Indian  warfare. 

(I)  The  earliest  records  of  this  line 
that  have  so  far  come  to  light  are  of  Solo- 
mon Finch,  who  passed  nearly  all  of  his 
life  in  Ramapo,  New  York.  On  Novem- 
ber 26,  1782,  he  purchased  land  that  is 
now  a  part  of  Tuxedo  Park,  and  the  orig- 
inal deed,  now  in  Dr.  Finch's  possession, 
is  one  of  those  rare  documents  sealed  with 
a  drop  of  the  grantor's  blood.  Solomon 
Finch  enlisted  for  military  service  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  but  it  was  held  that 
his  value  to  the  colonies  was  greater  as 
an  iron  worker  than  as  a  soldier  in  the 
field,  and  he  was  discharged,  returning  to 
his  forge.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  re- 
ligious faith. 

(II)  Thomas  Finch,  son  of  Solomon 
Finch,  was  born  in  what  was  then  Ra- 
mapo, New  York.  Like  his  father,  he  was 
an   iron   worker  and  resided   all   his   life 


within  a  radius  of  a  few  miles  from  the 
iron  works.  He  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  his  widow  drew  a  pension  based 
upon  this  service.  He  and  his  wife,  Abi- 
gail, were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

(III)  John  H.  Finch,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Abigail  Finch,  was  born  in  1832.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  iron  worker  and  fol- 
lowed that  calling  throughout  his  life. 
He  served  in  the  Union  army  in  the  Civil 
War,  enlisting  in  Company  C,  124th  Reg- 
iment, New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
saw  two  years,  nine  months,  and  twenty- 
six  days  of  active  service,  being  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  Antietam.  He  was  a 
member  of  Suffern  (New  York)  Post  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  The 
family  were  Presbyterians  in  religious 
faith,  but  attended  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  for  convenience.  John  H. 
Finch  married  Mrs.  Catherine  Bowen, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Wood,  of  Haverstraw, 
New  York,  and  widow  of  Hiram  Bowen, 
who  was  killed  in  the  first  attack  on 
Petersburg.  There  were  two  children  of 
her  first  marriage :  Minnie,  who  married 
William  B.  Miller,  of  Toledo.  Ohio;  and 
Georgia,  who  married  Charles  Gregory,  of 
Center  Valley,  New  York.  Children  of 
John  H.  and  Catherine  (Wood-Bowen) 
Finch:  Wallace  H.,  of  whom  further; 
Fannie  B.,  married  Alfred  J.  Lawler,  of 
Yonkers,  New  York ;  and  Cora,  who  mar- 
ried Raymond  B.  Johnson,  of  Springfield, 
Massachusetts. 

(IV)  Wallace  H.  Finch,  son  of  John 
H.  and  Catherine  (Wood-Bowen)  Finch, 
was  born  June  12,  1874,  and  when  twelve 
years  of  age  became  employed  in  the 
Ramapo  Iron  Works,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  In 
this  none  too  easy  school  he  gained  a 
knowledge  of  men  and  motives  of  human 
nature,  that  subsequent  courses  in  psy- 
chology could  scarcely  improve  upon,  an 


140 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


experience  that  has  proved  of  inestimable 
value  in  ministerial  work.  Always  an 
omnivorous  reader,  during  his  years  in  the 
mill  he  supplemented  his  scanty  educa- 
tion with  reading  which,  while  varied  in 
character,  was  always  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial nature.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  he  entered  Claverack  Preparatory 
School  in  Columbia,  New  York,  and  from 
there  went  to  Moody's  School  in  Mount 
Hermon,  Massachusetts.  Three  years  in 
New  York  University  followed,  and  dur- 
ing the  last  year  of  this  time  he  also  car- 
ried his  first  year's  work  in  Drew  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Madison,  New  Jersey, 
whence  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Divinity  in  1904. 

In  this  same  year  he  was  ordained  in 
New  York  City  into  the  ministry  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  was  as- 
signed to  his  first  pastorate  in  Pine  Bush, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  remained  for  but 
a  short  time.  When  Dr.  William  F.  An- 
derson, the  present  Bishop,  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  May, 
1904,  Rev.  Finch  was  invited  to  the  pulpit 
of  his  church  in  Ossining,  New  York,  a 
charge  he  held  until  191 1.  His  pastorate 
here  was  most  successful  and  resulted  in 
substantial  church  growth  along  all  lines. 
At  this  time  Bishop  Smith  appointed  Mr. 
Finch  district  superintendent  of  the  New- 
burgh  district  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  at  the  time  of  his  appoint- 
ment he  was  the  youngest  man  appointed 
to  that  important  office  in  the  history  of 
the  Conference.  Complimentary  as  the 
honor  was,  the  purely  administrative 
character  of  the  work  was  not  to  Dr. 
Finch's  liking,  for  his  heart  is  in  pastoral 
work,  so  in  September,  1912,  he  was  re- 
leased at  his  own  urgent  request.  He 
accepted  a  call  to  St.  Andrew's  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  New  York  City,  and 


in  the  following  year,  when  that  church 
was  moved  in  the  general  forward  move- 
ment of  the  denomination  in  New  York, 
Dr.  Finch  came  to  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
as  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  The  church  property  was 
much  run  down  when  he  came  to  the 
parish,  and  Dr.  Finch  made  his  first  ma- 
terial work  its  renovation,  which  was  ac- 
complished at  an  expenditure  of  $36,000. 

The  decade  of  his  ministry  has  been 
a  most  happy  and  fruitful  term  of  service, 
rendered  so  by  the  spirit  of  zealous  de- 
votion he  has  brought  to  his  work.  Dr. 
Finch  believes  that  men  should  not 
choose  the  ministry  in  the  manner  that 
other  professions  are  chosen,  but  rather, 
that  the  minister  is  chosen  by  God,  that 
therefore  he  has  a  divine  mission  in  the 
world  and  a  commensurate  responsibility 
that  permits  of  no  perfunctory,  routine 
service.  He  places  Christianity  high 
above  codes  of  ethics  or  morals,  and  a 
practical  idealism  guides  him  in  all  his 
work.  To  his  pastoral  duties  he  brings  an 
indefatigable  industry  and  a  kindly  sym- 
pathy that  enable  him  to  accomplish  a 
vast  amount  of  work  and  to  mingle  in 
mutual  benefit  with  his  people.  This 
communion  is  enlivened  by  Dr.  Finch's 
almost  irrepressible  sense  of  humor 
which,  often  finding  unconscious  expres- 
sion, not  only  lends  enjoyment  to  social 
intercourse  but  is  a  delightful  attribute 
to  his  public  speaking. 

His  gift  of  oratory  is  natural,  and  this, 
with  his  wide  reading,  has  given  him  emi- 
nent qualifications  for  the  lecture  plat- 
form. Dr.  Finch  has  filled  engagements 
in  many  places  in  Connecticut,  Massa- 
chusetts, Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and 
New  Jersey,  and  among  his  best  known 
lectures  are  those  entitled :  "Burns,  Scot- 
land's Chiefest  Ornament  of  Song,"  "Bed- 
ford's   Immortal    Brazier,"    "The    Magic 


141 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Maker,"  and  "Mothers  of  Men."  The  first 
named  seems  to  have  wakened  the  hearti- 
est response  from  his  audiences,  although 
Dr.  Finch  does  not  rate  it  so  highly  as 
some  of  his  other  lectures.  In  1904  he 
toured  the  Burns  country  and  added  to  his 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  poet's  work  all 
the  feeling  that  can  only  come  from  the 
local  color  and  atmosphere  of  the  scenes 
among  which  Burns  lived  and  wrote.  In 
the  past,  Dr.  Finch  has  done  a  great  deal 
of  after-dinner  speaking,  for  which  he  has 
been  in  great  demand.  Dr.  Finch  is  the 
author  of  "The  Plumb  Line,"  and  "Help- 
ers of  Your  Joy,"  published  by  Eaton  & 
Main  in  1911-12.  Dr.  Finch  has  con- 
tributed extensively  to  the  religious 
press,  "The  Christian  Advocate,"  of  New 
York ;  "Zions  Herald,"  of  Boston  ;  and  the 
"Methodist  Review,"  of  New  York,  which 
is  the  oldest  review  published  in  the 
country. 

In  1912  Syracuse  University  conferred 
upon  Rev.  Finch  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  a  distinction  unexpected  and  un- 
sought. Dr.  Finch  is  an  interested  par- 
ticipant in  public  affairs,  and  has  always 
borne  a  full  share  of  the  civic  burden.  He 
fraternizes  with  Radium  Lodge,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Ossining,  and  New- 
burgh  Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  and  Clergy  clubs,  of  New  York 
City.  Dr.  Finch  finds  his  chief  recrea- 
tion in  hunting  and  fishing,  and  the  sev- 
eral open  seasons  have  generally  found 
him  in  the  field  with  rod  of  gun. 

Rev.  Dr.  Finch  married  Phebe  Secor, 
daughter  of  James  and  Loretta  (Hill) 
Secor,  of  Cornwall,  New  York.  James 
Secor  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army, 
enlisting  from  Haverstraw,  New  York, 
whence  he  moved  to  Cornwall.  Rev.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Finch  are  the  parents  of  Ade- 
laide Catherine,  born  in  1906,  and  John 
Wallace,  born  in  191 1. 


WILLIAMS,   Edward   Drake, 

Manufacturing   Chemist. 

The  name  of  Williams  is  of  Welsh  de- 
rivation ;  it  is  derived  from  the  verb, 
"gwylio,"  meaning  to  watch.  The  noun 
of  this  verb  is  "gwylyn,"  and  means  a 
watcher,  a  sentinel,  and  thus  it  is  plainly 
seen  that  the  name  is  derived  from  a 
military  occupation.  The  Williams  fam- 
ily, of  which  Edward  Drake  Williams  is 
a  scion,  was  early  settled  in  Pomfret, 
Connecticut.  The  great-great-grandfa- 
ther of  Mr.  Williams  was  John  Williams, 
of  Pomfret.  He  was  the  father  of  David 
Williams,  whose  son,  Silas  Williams,  was 
born  in  Pomfret,  February  4,  1750,  and 
died  at  Royalton,  Vermont,  October  20, 
1843.  He  came  to  Royalton  in  1780,  and 
located  a  plot  of  land,  where  he  built  a 
log  house.  The  following  year  he  re- 
moved from  Pomfret  with  his  wife  and 
two  children,  and  became  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  Royalton.  He  was  a  surveyor, 
lister,  moderator,  and  in  1784  was  rep- 
resentative to  the  Legislature.  Silas 
Williams  married  Mary  Flynn,  daughter 
of  Richard  Flynn.  She  was  born  January 
29,  1749,  in  Pomfret,  and  died  March  13, 

1835- 

David  Williams,  son  of  Silas  and  Mary 
(Flynn)  Williams,  was  born  February 
3,  1788,  and  died  May  9,  1864,  in  Royalton. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  a  useful  citizen  of 
his  community.  He  married,  December 
3,  1812,  Eunice  Crandall,  daughter  of 
Gideon  and  Esther  (Rix)  Crandall,  born 
October  6,  1788,  in  Royalton,  and  died 
there,  March  2,  1871. 

Silas  R.  Williams,  son  of  David  and 
Eunice  (Crandall)  Williams,  was  born 
in  Royalton,  April  14,  1823,  and  died  at 
Essex  Junction,  Vermont,  August  24, 
1890.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  and  the  Royalton  Academy.  It 
was  his  ambition  to  go  to  college,  but 
142 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


being  the  youngest  son  and  the  only  one 
remaining  at  home,  it  became  necessary 
for  him  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  home  farm.  He  continued  to  culti- 
vate it  until  1872,  in  which  year  he  re- 
moved to  Essex  Junction  and  purchased 
the  restaurant  in  the  station  of  the  Cen- 
tral Vermont  railroad.  It  was  while  Mr. 
Williams  was  in  this  business  that  Ed- 
ward Phelps  missed  his  train  and  wrote 
the  famous  poem  about  Essex  Junction. 
Subsequently  Mr.  Williams  was  ap- 
pointed agent  at  Royalton  and  went  there 
to  assume  the  duties  of  the  position,  but 
died  shortly  afterwards.  During  the 
Civil  War  Mr.  Williams  volunteered  his 
services,  and  was  appointed  sergeant  by 
Governor  Smith.  The  men  on  the  regis- 
tration knew,  however,  that  he  was 
needed  at  home  and  they  took  advantage 
of  the  excuse  that  was  often  used  by  the 
less  patriotic,  and  Mr.  Williams'  enlist- 
ment was  refused  on  the  ground  that  his 
teeth  were  too  poor  to  bite  the  cartridges. 

Mr.  Williams  married,  September  12, 
1853,  Julia  Ann  Smith,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Sarah  (Parkhurst)  Smith;  she 
was  a  native  of  Randolph,  Vermont.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of 
them  growing  to  maturity :  Robert  S., 
now  a  resident  of  Monte  Vista,  Colorado ; 
Lottie  E.,  deceased,  married  Frank  E. 
Bowman,  of  Winthrop,  Massachusetts ; 
Clara  E.,  married  Homer  S.  Drury,  of 
Essex  Junction,  and  is  the  mother  of  five 
sons ;  Edward  Drake,  of  further  men- 
tion. The  Williams  family  attended  the 
Congregational  church  of  Essex  Junction 
for  many  years,  and  Mr.  Williams  served 
as  deacon  and  was  otherwise  active  in 
church  work. 

Edward  Drake  Williams,  son  of  Silas 
R.  and  Julia  Ann  (Smith)  Williams,  was 
born  in  Royalton,  Vermont,  November  13, 
1866,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Essex  Junction,  and  then  was  a  student 


at  the  Burlington  High  School.  He  en- 
tered the  University  of  Vermont,  and 
specialized  in  the  study  of  chemistry, 
graduating  in  1888  with  the  degree  of 
Ph.  B.  The  year  following  his  graduation 
Mr.  Williams  taught  chemistry  at  his 
alma  mater,  resigning  to  enter  the  employ 
of  the  Frederick  Crane  Chemical  Com- 
pany, at  Short  Hills,  New  Jersey.  For 
thirty-one  years  Mr.  Williams  was  con- 
tinuously identified  with  this  business, 
though  the  name  of  the  concern  was 
changed  several  times,  and  is  now  known 
as  the  Celluloid  Zapon  Company.  He 
went  to  work  there  as  a  chemist  and  after 
a  year  was  made  superintendent,  a  posi- 
tion he  has  held  since  that  time.  Mr. 
Williams  has  seen  the  industry  rise  from 
comparatively  small  size  until  he  now  has 
about  eight  hundred  men  under  his  direc- 
tion. He  was  a  director  of  the  company 
until  the  Atlas  Powder  Company  took 
over  the  business. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Williams  is  a  member 
of  Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  Stamford ;  Rittenhouse  Chap- 
ter, Royal  Arch  Masons ;  Washington 
Council,  Royal  and  Select  Masters ;  Clin- 
ton Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  of 
Norwalk ;  Lafayette  Consistory,  Sublime 
Princes  of  the  Royal  Secret ;  and  Pyramid 
Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order  Nobles  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Bridgeport. 

In  politics  Mr.  Williams  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  has  been  an  active  worker  since 
coming  to  Stamford.  While  a  resident  of 
Short  Hills  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Town  Council  and  as  town  treasurer. 

Mr.  Williams  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  he 
is  an  elder  of  the  church  and  superinten- 
dent of  the  Sunday  school.  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams is  secretary  of  the  Women's  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

Mr.  Williams  married  Lena  E.  Ferrin, 
daughter  of   Dr.   C.   M.   and    Marion   E. 


143 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(Benedict)  Ferrin,  of  Essex  Junction. 
Their  children  are:  i.  Marion  J.,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Connecticut  Woman's  College 
at  New  London ;  she  is  now  instructor  in 
dietetics  in  the  Kansas  State  College.  2. 
Gertrude  F. 


PALMER,  Frank  Wyllis, 

Enterprising    Citizen. 

Men  of  action  are  the  men  who  make 
history.  In  all  ages  the  world  has 
watched  the  man  of  action,  taken  notes 
of  his  achievements,  and  handed  them 
down  from  generation  to  generation  in 
more  or  less  permanent  form.  So  it  is 
eminently  fitting  that  these  pages  should 
be  covered  with  records  of  the  achieve- 
ments of  men  of  the  present  day.  It  is 
not  only  the  spectacular  that  holds  mean- 
ing for  the  student  of  history.  The  con- 
stant, daily  upward  trend  of  civic  life 
and  public  ethics,  and  the  steady  march 
of  progress,  are  borne  onward  and  for- 
ward by  the  men  who  cease  not  the 
wholesome,  constructive  activities  that 
build  up  and  sustain  the  integrity  of  the 
community.  Such  a  man  is  Frank  Wyllis 
Palmer,  of  the  Lockwood  &  Palmer  Com- 
pany, hardware  merchants  of  Stamford, 
Connecticut. 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  Palmer  is 
connected  with  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing epochs  in  history.  Previous  to  the 
eleventh  century  surnames  were  not  com- 
mon, but  after  the  Crusades  they  began  to 
be  considered  of  importance,  as  at  the 
present  time.  The  name  of  Palmer  is  one 
of  the  most  ancient  of  surnames.  It  was 
first  a  title  given  to  those  pilgrims  of 
the  Crusade  who  returned  from  the  Holy 
Land,  bearing  palm  branches  in  their 
hands,  and  from  that  custom  it  followed 
that  the  name  was  used  as  a  surname. 

(I)  Henry  Palmer,  the  progenitor  of 
this   family  in  America,  was  born,  it  is 


believed,  in  County  Somerset,  England, 
about  1600.  He  settled  in  Watertown, 
Massachusetts,  before  1636.  He  removed 
to  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  about  1637, 
and  the  records  show  that  he  had  a  home- 
stead there  in  1645,  tnen  later,  about  1650, 
he  lived  in  Greenwich.  He  died  about 
1660,  mourned  by  all  the  little  pioneer 
community  he  had  helped  to  found.  He 
married  twice,  the  name  of  his  first  wife 
being  Katharine,  and  the  second,  Judith, 
Children :  Deborah,  born  February  5, 
1643  !  Hannah,  born  August  14,  1645,  mar- 
ried Isaac  Stiles;  and  Ephriam,  of  whom 
further. 

(II)  Ephriam  Palmer,  son  of  Henry 
and  Katharine  Palmer,  was  born  April 
5,  1648,  died  August  19,  1684.  He  was 
granted,  May  23,  1673,  ten  acres  of  land 
in  Greenwich.  The  same  year  he  was 
granted  interest  in  outlands  lying  between 
Mianus  and  Byram  rivers.     He  married, 

in  1668,  Sarah  ,  who  survived  him 

and  afterwards  married  Gregory. 

Children  of  Ephriam  and  Sarah  Palmer: 
Joanna,  born  1669 ;  Sarah,  born  in  1671 ; 
Judith,  born  in  1673,  married  Samuel  Ray- 
mond ;  Susannah,  born  in  1675 ;  Ephriam, 
born  October  24,  1677;  Mary,  born  in 
1679;  John,  of  whom  further. 

(III)  John  Palmer,  son  of  Ephraim  and 
Sarah  Palmer,  was  born  in  1681.  He 
married  (first)  Sarah  Close,  who  died 
September  1,  1748,  aged  seventy-four;  he 
married  (second)  Mary . 

(IV)  Messenger  Palmer,  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Close)  Palmer,  was  born  in 
1718,  and  died  January  28,  1792.  In  the 
May  session  of  the  General  Court,  in 
1762,  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant  of 
the  Train  Band  in  Greenwich,  and  was 
commissioned  captain  in  1764.  These 
commissions  would  indicate  that  he  was 
a  man  of  great  importance  in  the  com- 
munity. He  became  possessed  of  large 
land    holdings   on   the   Mianus   river,  on 


144 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


what  is  now  known  as  Palmer's  Hill.  He 
married  (first)  Hannah  Ferris,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Ferris,  who  died  on  February 
18,  1746.  He  married  (second)  Sybil 
Wood,  daughter  of  John  Wood,  of  Brook- 
haven,  Long  Island,  and  she  died  April 
I3.  I754-  He  married  (third)  in  1755, 
Mrs.  Esther  Palmer. 

(V)  Jeremiah  Palmer,  son  of  Messen- 
ger and  Sybil  (Wood)  Palmer,  was  born 
October  17,  1751,  and  died  September  25, 
1825.  He  was  a  farmer  and  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  In 
1779  he  married  Mary  Ferris,  daughter  of 
James  Ferris.  She  was  born  on  February 
27,  1757,  and  died  June  3,  1832. 

(VI)  James  Ferris  Palmer,  son  of  Jere- 
miah and  Mary  (Ferris)  Palmer,  was 
born  March  3,  1780,  and  died  April  14, 
1842.  He  worked  as  clerk  in  a  store  in 
Stamford,  and  became  the  proprietor  be- 
fore his  marriage.  He  carried  it  on  as  a 
general  store,  and  the  post-office  was  lo- 
cated there.  After  a  few  years,  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  give  up  business 
life,  and  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  on 
which  he  had  formerly  lived.  He  married 
(second)  February  15,  1822,  Sally  B. 
Scofield,  daughter  of  Gershom  and  Lydia 
(Bell)  Scofield,  of  Darien.  She  was  born 
October  28,  1786,  and  died  on  April  3, 
1863.  Gershom  Scofield  was  a  lieutenant 
in  the  Revolution ;  he  died  in  1824,  aged 
seventy-five  years.  He  always  preserved 
his  powder  horn,  on  which  he  had  carved 
while  in  the  service,  "Liberty,  Property, 
and  no  Tax  in  America." 

(VII)  Charles  Scofield  Palmer,  son  of 
James  Ferris  and  Sally  B.  (Scofield)  Pal- 
mer, was  born  July  30,  1827,  and  died 
March  13,  1904.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  growing  up 
among  the  wholesome  and  interesting 
activities  of  the  farm.  He  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  but  spent  more  time  on 
the  farm  than  in  following  his  trade.    He 

Conn— 8— 10 


was  very  successful  in  his  chosen  line  of 
work,  and  his  place  became  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  and  well-kept  in  the 
neighborhood.  For  about  thirty  years  it 
was  called  Westover  Farm,  and  this  name 
was  gradually  applied  to  the  whole  local- 
ity. The  house  was  built  by  Jeremiah 
Palmer  when  he  was  married,  and  is  still 
in  the  family,  being  now  carried  on  as  a 
dairy  farm  by  Herbert  M.  and  Harry  L. 
Palmer.  They  keep  about  ten  cows,  and 
with  the  milk  they  buy  throughout  the 
neighborhood,  handle  about  one  thousand 
quarts  a  day,  selling  direct  to  the  con- 
sumer in  Stamford.  Charles  Scofield 
Palmer  lived  to  see  his  sons  take  up  the 
work  in  which  he  had  felt  such  pride  and 
interest,  and  to  see  them  established  in 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  lifelong 
neighbors.  Mr.  Palmer  married,  July  17, 
1858,  Mary  E.  Ferris,  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel Ferris,  of  Stamford.  She  was 
born  November  19,  1836,  and  died  June 
20,  1909.  Of  their  seven  children,  six 
grew  to  maturity :  Frank  W.,  of  further 
mention ;  Carrie  May,  born  December  16, 
1861  ;  Wilbor  Ray,  born  December  10, 
1863,  who  died  May  n,  1910;  Herbert 
M.,  born  December  16,  1865,  on  the  old 
homestead ;  Harry  L.,  born  June  8,  1868, 
who  married  Caroline  E.  Fenwick,  Octo- 
ber 3,  1894;  Helen  W.,  born  October  22, 
1870,  who  married  Robert  T.  Woodbury, 
of  Springdale,  Connecticut,  May  8,  1898 ; 
and  Ellis  F.,  of  Stamford,  born  September 
2,  1875. 

(VIII)  Frank  Wyllis  Palmer,  vice-pres- 
ident and  treasurer  of  the  Lockwood  & 
Palmer  Company,  of  Stamford,  was  born 
in  that  city,  September  16,  1859,  and  is  the 
eldest  son  of  Charles  Scofield  and.  Mary  E. 
(Ferris)  Palmer.  He  was  well  grounded 
in  the  fundamentals  of  a  practical  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Stamford, 
then  went  to  work  in  the  woolen  mills  at 
Roxbury.     He  remained  there  about  four 


M5 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


years,  when  he  returned  to  Stamford  and 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Yale  &  Towne 
Manufacturing  Company.  With  charac- 
teristic energy  he  took  up  their  work,  re- 
maining with  them  for  about  five  years, 
and  then  entered  the  employ  of  Henry 
Lockwood.  This  was  an  entirely  different 
line  of  work,  but  so  well  did  he  apply 
himself  to  the  mastery  of  the  business  and 
to  the  interests  of  his  employer  that  after 
a  time  he  was  invited  to  become  a  partner 
in  the  business.  The  partnership  was 
formed  in  July,  1897,  when  Mr.  Palmer 
had  been  with  Mr.  Lockwood  for  thirteen 
years.  At  that  time  the  firm  name  be- 
came Lockwood  &  Palmer,  but  in  1914 
the  business  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  Lockwood  &  Palmer  Com- 
pany, with  Mr.  Lockwood  as  president. 
Always  an  aggressive  and  up-to-the-min- 
ute business  man,  gifted  with  an  unusu- 
ally broad  mental  grasp,  he  put  new  life 
into  the  business,  and  the  company  has 
gone  forward  to  splendid  success.  The 
present  building  covers  a  floor  space  of 
sixty-six  by  eighty-five  feet.  In  1902 
three  stories  were  built  to  give  adequate 
space  for  all  future  development.  But 
men  of  this  stamp,  business  houses  of  this 
caliber,  are  the  forces  that  have  made 
Stamford  one  of  the  banner  cities  of  the 
East  in  growth  and  development,  and 
with  the  growth  of  the  city  the  business 
of  the  Lockwood  &  Palmer  Company  has 
grown  beyond  even  the  bounds  set  for  it 
by  the  expectations  of  the  members  of 
the  firm  themselves.  It  was  necessary  to 
add  two  stories  more  only  a  few  years 
later,  and  the  imposing  home  of  the  busi- 
ness still  inadequately  suggests  the  im- 
portance of  the  mercantile  interests 
housed  therein.  Finely  equipped,  the  line 
carried  consists  of  hardware,  house-fur- 
nishing goods  and  agricultural  imple- 
ments. The  increased  use  of  automobiles 
and  their  accessories  led  the  company  to 


discontinue  some  time  ago  the  complete 
line  of  carriages,  harnesses,  etc.,  which 
comprised  an  important  part  of  their 
business  formerly.  Mr.  Palmer  has  made 
for  himself  a  place  of  dignity  and  im- 
portance in  the  business  life  of  Stamford. 
Personally  he  is  an  active,  energetic  man, 
keenly  alive  to  all  the  interests  of  the  day, 
whether  or  not  they  bear  directly  upon 
the  business  in  which  he  is  engaged.  He 
is  a  man  whom  it  is  the  pride  of  Amer- 
ican men  to  call  a  representative  citizen. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  of  which  Mr.  Palmer  has 
served  as  deacon.  For  some  years  he 
has  been  an  influential  member  of  the 
business  committee,  where  his  experience 
and  natural  ability  are  of  inestimable 
value  to  the  church  organization. 

Mr.  Palmer  married  Cordelia  M.  White- 
head, daughter  of  Martin  Whitehead,  of 
Durham,  New  York,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  one  son,  Clarence  Wyllis,  who 
was  born  March  3,  1896.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  King's  School,  of  Stamford,  and 
was  a  student  at  the  New  York  University 
when  he  left  to  enter  the  Red  Cross  Am- 
bulance Corps  and  went  to  France.  He 
made  a  splendid  record  of  devotion  to 
duty  at  the  front,  and  attained  the  rank  of 
sergeant-major.  Since  his  return  home 
he  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Lock- 
wood  &  Palmer  Company. 


KEOGH,  John, 

Lawyer,   Served   in   World    War. 

The  surname  of  Keogh  in  Gaelic  is 
Eochaidh  and  means  a  horseman.  It  is  of 
the  class  of  names  derived  from  an  occu- 
pation, and  is  among  the  names  found  in 
Ireland  at  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury. The  Keogh  family,  of  which  John 
Keogh,  attorney  and  referee  in  bankruptcy 
of  South  Norwalk,  is  a  member,  was  early 
settled  in  the  vicinitv  of  Dublin.  Ireland. 


146 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


John  Keogh,  grandfather  of  John  (2) 
Keogh,  was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Dub- 
lin, Ireland,  and  grew  to  manhood.  The 
Christian  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  Daniel  Keogh, 
who  was  born  near  Dublin,  Ireland,  com- 
ing to  America  in  1868  or  1869,  being  then 
a  young  man.  He  first  located  in  New 
York,  then  went  to  New  Haven,  Connec- 
ticut, and  later  to  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, finally  removing  to  Norwalk,  same 
State.  He  died  October  21,  1904.  Dan- 
iel Keogh  married  Frances  McMacken, 
daughter  of  Thomas  McMacken,  who  was 
born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  died  July  31, 
1906,  aged  fifty-seven  years,  in  South 
Norwalk,  Connecticut.  Thomas  Mc- 
Macken married  Sara  Macllhenney, 
whose  mother,  Jennie  (Fulton)  Macll- 
henney, tradition  says,  was  a  cousin  of 
the  inventor  of  the  steamboat,  "Robert 
Fulton."  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keogh  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity :  John,  of  further  men- 
tion ;  Thomas,  Daniel,  Sarah  E. ;  Stephen 
F.,  now  deceased  ;  Jeremiah,  and  Harry  W. 

John  (2)  Keogh,  son  of  Daniel  and 
Frances  (McMacken)  Keogh,  was  born 
in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  December 
15,  1871.  He  was  educated  in  the  Bridge- 
port and  Norwalk  public  schools.  In 
1897  he  graduated  from  the  Yale  Law 
School  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  the 
same  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Until 
twelve  years  ago  Mr.  Keogh  was  engaged 
in  practice  alone;  in  1908  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Nehemiah  Candee,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  under  the  firm  name  of  Keogh  & 
Candee.  Their  practice  is  a  general  one 
and  they  are  among  the  most  successful 
lawyers  of  Fairfield  county.  For  two 
years  Mr.  Keogh  served  as  judge  of  the 
City  Court,  and  was  corporation  counsel 
of  Norwalk  for  five  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Keogh  is  a  Democrat, 


and  is  a  staunch  advocate  of  that  party's 
principles.  On  January  1,  1920,  he  was 
appointed  referee  in  bankruptcy  for  Fair- 
field county.  Mr.  Keogh  serves  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  and  is 
counsel  for  the  People's  Trust  Company 
of  South  Norwalk.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Ma- 
son, Odd  Fellow,  and  Elk,  and  was  first 
commander  of  the  local  post  of  the  Amer- 
ican Legion.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
World  War,  Mr.  Keogh,  who  had  seen 
service  in  the  Connecticut  National  Guard, 
enlisted  as  a  candidate  at  Plattsburg,  New 
York,  and  was  later  commissioned,  serv- 
ing with  the  76th  Division  in  France, 
where  he  was  made  a  captain  and  as- 
signed to  the  staff  of  Major-General 
Harry  F.  Hodges. 

Mr.  Keogh  married,  in  1898,  Nana  V. 
Pearson,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Caro- 
line Pearson,  and  they  have  two  children : 
Jack,  born  February  25,  1910 ;  and  Fran- 
ces, born  August  II,  1912. 


GREGORY,  George, 

Metallurgist,  Legislator. 

The  English  antecedents  of  Henry 
Gregory,  founder  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica, were  of  distinguished  lineage,  trac- 
ing from  Gregorious,  whose  son,  John 
Gregory,  was  lord  of  the  manors  of 
Ashfordby,  Leicestershire  and  Freseley, 
Shropshire,  England.  He  married  Maud 
Moton,  daughter  of  Sir  Roger  Moton, 
Knight  of  Peckleton.  John  Gregory  was 
living  A.  D.  1162.  His  son,  Nicholas 
Gregory,  was  the  father  of  Adam  Greg- 
ory, of  Highhurst,  Lancashire,  who  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Adam  Ormeston,  of 
Ormeston,  in  the  same  county.  The  coat- 
of-arms  of  the  Highhurst  Gregory  fam- 
ily was : 

Arms — Party  per  pale,  argent  and  azure,  two 
lions  rampant  averse,  counterchanged. 


147 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


The  next  in  line  was  William  Gregory, 
of  Highhurst.  Most  genealogies  call  him 
the  son  of  Adam,  but  one  writer  says  he 
was  a  lineal  descendant.  William  Greg- 
ory married  Dorothy  Parr,  of  Kemp- 
enhaughe,  Lancashire,  and  her  family 
claimed  descent  from  Sir  William  Parr, 
of  Parr  (an  ancestor  of  Queen  Katharine 
Parr,  wife  of  Henry  VIII.)  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  (de  Ros)  Parr,  who  was  de- 
scended from  Baron  de  Ros,  one  of  the 
twenty-five  barons  appointed  to  compel 
King  John  to  obey  the  Magna  Charter. 
Robert  was  also  a  crusader,  and  married 
Isabel,  natural  daughter  of  King  William 
the  Lion,  of  Scotland.  Robert  was  de- 
scended from  the  Earls  of  Warren  and 
King  Henry  I  of  France.  William  Greg- 
ory had  a  son,  Hugh,  who  married  Maria 

.     Their  son,  Thomas  Gregory,  of 

Overbroughton,  Nottinghamshire,  mar- 
ried Dorothy  Buston.  Their  son,  John 
Gregory,  of  Broughton,  Sutney,  Notting- 
hamshire, married  Alice .    Of  their 

children,  William,  made  a  fortune  as  a 
grazer,  and  was  alderman,  mayor  and 
member  of  Parliament  from  Nottingham. 

(I)  Henry  Gregory,  brother  of  William 
Gregory,  and  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
New  England,  was  born  in  Nottingham- 
shire, England,  about  1570.  He  was  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  before  1639,  and 
in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  not  long 
after,  and  was  reckoned  as  one  of  the 
worthiest  citizens  of  that  town.  The  his- 
tory of  Stratford,  Connecticut,  shows 
Henry  Gregory  as  a  resident  of  that  place 
in  1647.  In  tnat  year  his  son,  John,  tes- 
tified as  his  father  "was  old  and  that  his 
eyesight  had  failed  him."  If  he  was  born 
in  1570,  as  seems  probable,  he  was  sev- 
enty-seven years  of  age  in  1647.  He  was 
a  shoemaker.  No  doubt  he  combined 
with  work  at  his  trade  the  labors  of  a 
husbandman  during  the  growing  season, 
as  was  the  custom  of  shoemakers   until 


within  a  period  remembered  by  people 
now  living.  The  assessments  against  him 
for  taxes  and  the  inventory  of  his  estate 
show  him  to  have  won  a  fair  measure  of 
success  through  industry  and  thrift  under 
the  trying  conditions  of  pioneer  life.  He 
died  in  1655,  and  his  will  was  proved  June 
19  of  that  year.  In  the  history  of  Spring- 
field, his  wife  is  referred  to  as  "Goody 
Gregory."  Henry  Gregory  had  several 
sons  and  two  daughters:  1.  John.  2. 
Judah,  married  Sarah  Burt,  of  Spring- 
field, in  1643.  3-  Samuel,  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Wakelee.  4.  Elizabeth,  mar- 
ried Richard  Webb,  one  of  the  original 
settlers  of  Hartford.  5.  A  daughter,  mar- 
ried William  Crooker,  of  Stratford,  in 
1638.  The  daughters  were  no  doubt  older 
than  their  brother,  Samuel. 

(II)  John  Gregory,  eldest  son  of  Henry 
Gregory,  was  born  in  Nottinghamshire, 
England,  probably  between  the  years  1600 
and  1610.  The  date  of  his  last  recorded 
deed  was  1689,  and  the  first  notice  of  his 
death  appears  in  1694,  and  he  was  at  that 
time  a  very  old  man.  If  the  family  came 
to  America  between  the  years  1635  and 
1638,  as  supposed,  he  was  already  a  man 
of  mature  years  and  had  already  accum- 
ulated some  wealth.  He  had  been  reared 
in  a  superior  environment  among  dis- 
tinguished relatives,  men  of  affairs,  and 
their  influence  had  doubtless  ripened  in 
him  the  character  and  habits  of  a  leader 
which  he  continued  to  exhibit  in  the  new 
home.  While  he  is  found  mentioned  in 
histories  of  Springfield  and  Stratford,  it 
would  seem  tTiat  New  Haven  was  the  first 
town  with  which  he  was  identified  as  a 
resident  for  several  years.  He  repre- 
sented that  town  in  the  General  Court. 
His  favorite  sister,  Elizabeth,  had  become 
the  wife  of  Richard  Webb,  the  wealthy 
Hartford  resident  who  first  signed  the 
agreement  with  Roger  Ludlow  for 
the  settlement  of  Norwalk,  and  it  is  more 


148 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


than  probable  that  the  two  families  re- 
moved together  to  Norwalk.  At  any 
rate,  John  Gregory  was  one  of  the  thirty 
original  settlers  of  that  town  and  his 
home  lot  was  number  one.  He  had 
mowed  hay  in  the  town  in  the  summer  of 
1653.  He  became  a  large  land  owner  and 
a  leader  of  his  community.  He  repre- 
sented Norwalk  nine  times  in  the  Legis- 
lature at  its  May  sessions  and  eight  times 
at  its  October  sessions.  His  first  term 
was  in  1662.  He  served  on  a  committee 
with  three  other  citizens  appointed  in 
1670,  to  settle  the  boundary  line  between 
Norwalk  and  Saugatuck  rivers.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah and  their  children  were : 

I.  John.  2.  Jachin,  removed  to  Wilton, 
Connecticut,  in  1625.  3.  Judah,  removed 
to  Danbury.  4.  Joseph,  baptized  July  26, 
1626.  5.  Thomas,  baptized  March  19, 
1648.  6.  Phebe,  married,  in  1670,  John 
Benedict.  7.  Sarah,  born  December  3, 
1652,  married  James  Benedict,  brother  of 
Phebe's  husband. 

(Ill)  Judah  Gregory,  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  Gregory,  was  born  about  1643,  an^ 
died  about  1733.  He  was  an  early  settler 
of  Norwalk  and  Danbury.  On  October 
20,  1664,  he  married  Hannah  Haite, 
daughter  of  Walter  Haite  (Hoyt).  Wal- 
ter Haite  was  born  about  1618.  He  was 
living  in  Windsor,  Connecticut,  in  1640 
and  1644.  He  was  deputy  fourteen  ses- 
sions; made  sergeant  in  1659;  selectman 
in  1672,  and  his  death  occurred  about 
1698.  His  father,  Simon  Hoyt,  was  prob- 
ably born  as  early  as  1595.  He  was  of 
Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  in  1628-29; 
Dorchester  in  1633 ;  Scituate  about  1635 ; 
Windsor,  Connecticut,  about  1639  or  1640 ; 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  between  1657  and 
1658;  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  before  1659, 
and  before  his  death  was  at  Stamford 
again.  He  died  there  September  1,  1667. 
His  wife,  Susannah,  died  before  Febru- 
ary, 1674. 


(IV)  John  (2)  Gregory,  son  of  Judah 
and  Hannah  (Haite)  Gregory,  was  born 
March  17,  1668,  and  died  in  1758.  The 
Christian  name  of  his  wife  was  Hannah. 

(V)  Ebenezer  Gregory,  son  of  John 
(2)  and  Hannah  Gregory,  was  born  as 
early  as  1737,  and  died  November  13,  1809, 
in  his  seventy-fourth  year,  and  is  buried 
in  North  Street  Cemetery,  Danbury,  Con- 
necticut. He  lived  in  Danbury.  He  mar- 
ried, July  12,  1768,  Phebe  Booth,  daugh- 
ter of  Abel  Booth,  of  Newton,  and  she 
died  September  26,  1818,  aged  eighty-one 
years.  Their  children  were:  1.  Huldah, 
born  April  9,  1769,  died  January  12,  1774. 
2.  Caleb,  of  whom  further.  3.  Esther, 
born  November  23,  1772.  4.  Abel  Booth, 
born  October  28,  1774.  5.  Huldah,  born 
August  19,  1776,  died  October  12,  1778. 
Ebenezer  Gregory  had  a  nail  shop  on  his 
house  lot,  which  he  deeded  to  his  son, 
Abel  B.,  in  1802. 

(VI)  Caleb  Gregory,  son  of  Ebenezer 
and  Phebe  (Booth)  Gregory,  was  born 
October  10,  1770,  and  died  December  2, 
1849.  He  lived  in  Danbury,  and  in  1801 
received  by  deed  from  his  father  land  in 
Wigwam  in  compensation  for  his  services 
between  the  ages  of  twenty-one  and  twen- 
ty-seven. Caleb  Gregory  married  Fanny 
Brewer,  daughter  of  Peter  Brewer,  and 
she  died  July  18,  1825,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two  years.  Their  children  were  :  Stephen 
Townsend,  Harry,  William  Harvey,  of 
whom  further ;  Ira  ;  Abel ;  Eliza,  died  July 
24,  1831,  aged  twenty-one  years;  Maria, 
married  Aaron  Pierce ;  Phebe,  died  Octo- 
ber 28,  1805,  aged  two  years,  five  months, 
five  days. 

(VII)  William  Harvey  Gregory,  son  of 
Caleb  and  Fanny  (Brewer)  Gregory,  was 
born  in  Danbury,  in  1804,  and  died  in  1891. 
He  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Darien,  Con- 
necticut, and  in  his  young  manhood  was 
a  carpenter  and  joiner,  but  after  some 
years  went  into  the  lumber  business.    Mr. 


149 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Gregory  was  a  man  of  progressive  ideas, 
but  very  quiet  and  unassuming  in  man- 
ner. He  married  Mary  Ann  Richards, 
daughter  of  Ambe  and  Sally  (Dibble) 
Richards,  of  Darien.  She  was  born  in 
1810,  and  died  in  1868. 

(VIII)  George  Gregory,  son  of  Wil- 
liam Harvey  and  Mary  Ann  (Richards) 
Gregory,  was  born  March  20,  1835,  and  is 
now  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six  years  (1921).  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  became  apprenticed  to  the 
blacksmith's  trade.  He  was  only  twenty- 
five  years  old  when  he  was  made  foreman 
of  what  was  then  the  largest  blacksmith 
shop  in  New  Haven.  In  1880  he  went  to 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  to  take  charge  of  a 
shop  for  the  Studebaker  Brothers,  but  on 
account  of  ill  health  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn East  after  about  fourteen  months. 
After  that  he  engaged  for  many  years  in 
carpentering  and  farming.  One  notable 
achievement  of  his  career  was  the  mas- 
tery of  the  art  of  welding  copper,  and  also 
copper  to  iron,  something  very  seldom  at- 
tempted. For  many  years  Mr.  Gregory 
has  resided  at  Xoroton  Heights  in  the 
town  of  Darien,  where  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature. Mr.  Gregory  married  Sarah  Jane 
YVhitlock,  daughter  of  Wakeman  and  Bet- 
sey M.  (Slawson)  YVhitlock.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Henry  W.,  William  H.,  and 
Ira  O.,  sketches  of  whom  follow. 

(The  Richards  Line). 
(I)  Samuel  Richards,  the  ancestor  of 
Mrs.  Gregory,  was  born  in  England,  prob- 
ably in  Staffordshire.  He  came  to  this 
country  as  a  soldier  at  the  time  of  Queen 
Anne's  War,  March  31,  1713.  He  was 
then  in  his  youth.  He  applied  for  a  dis- 
charge from  the  army  which  was  refused. 
Later,  however,  he  was  fortunate  enough 
to  escape   and   eventually   came   to   Nor- 


walk,  Connecticut,  where  he  settled  and 
became  one  of  the  most  useful  and  dis- 
tinguished citizens  there.  He  served  as 
grand  juryman  in  1734,  and  as  ty thing- 
man  in  1743.  Samuel  Richards  married 
(first)  March  7,  1714,  Elizabeth  Latham, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Latham,  of  Nor- 
walk,  born  in  1692,  died  in  1751.  She 
was  the  mother  of  John,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  John  Richards,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Latham)  Richards,  was  born 
February  16,  1720-21,  and  died  May  5, 
1790.  He  married,  January  19,  1742-43. 
Rebecca  Fitch,  born  in  1720,  died  October 
15,  1801  ;  they  resided  in  what  is  now 
West  Xorwalk,  and  John  Richards  served 
as  grand  juror  in  1750. 

(III)  John  (2)  Richards,  son  of  John 
(1)  and  Rebecca  (Fitch)  Richards,  was 
born  in  Xorwalk,  Connecticut,  and  bap- 
tized July  28,  1744.  He  was  a  cordwainer 
by  occupation.  He  married,  in  Ridgefield, 
Connecticut,  February  5,  1766,  the  Widow 
Abigail  Olmstead. 

(IV)  Ambe  Richards,  son  of  John  (2) 
and  Abigail  (Olmstead)  Richards,  was 
born  September  23,  1773.  He  married,  in 
1801,  Sally  Dibble,  daughter  of  John  Dib- 
ble. This  line  has  not  yet  been  definitely 
traced  back  of  Reuben  Dibble,  the  grand- 
father of  Sally  Dibble.  Reuben  Dibble 
was  born  February  6,  1732-33,  and  mar- 
ried (first),  March  16,  1758,  Anne  Sher- 
wood, who  presented  a  son,  John,  for  bap- 
tism on  December  16,  1759. 

(The  Whitlock  Line). 

Justus  Whitlock,  born  February  12. 
1764,  formerly  of  Greenfield,  Massachu- 
setts, married,  July  19.  or  29.  1781,  Abi- 
gail Meeker,  of  Redding,  Connecticut, 
(see  Meeker). 

Walter  Whitlock.  son  of  Justus  and 
Abigail  (Meeker)  Whitlock,  born  Febru- 
ary 22,  1782,  was  made  freeman  in  Red- 
ding, Connecticut.    Married,  December  24. 

SO 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1799,  Anna  Morgan  Gorham,  born  in  Red- 
dington,  Connecticut,  September  1,  1782, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Gorham,  Jr.  (see  Gor- 
ham). 

(The  Meeker  Line). 

Abigail  Meeker,  who  on  July  19,  or  29, 
1781,  married  Justus  Whitlock,  was  born 
February  12,  1764,  daughter  of  Seth 
and  Abbie  (Wakeman)  Meeker.  Samuel 
Meeker,  father  of  Seth  Meeker,  was  born 
about  1700,  and  married  Abigail  Greg- 
ory. Their  residence  was  on  Cross  High- 
way, Westport,  Connecticut.  His  father, 
Daniel  Meeker,  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Ogden,  ancestor  of  the  Og- 
den  family.  His  father,  Robert  Meeker, 
married,  in  Branford,  Connecticut,  in 
1640,  Susannah  Tuberfield,  and  his  will 
is  dated  1651. 

(The  Gorham  Line). 

(I)  The  Gorham  family  was  established 
in  England  in  the  time  of  the  Norman 
Conquest.  James  Gorham,  born  in  1550, 
in  Benefield,  Northamptonshire,  Eng- 
land, married,  in  1572,  Agnes  Bernington. 
He  died  in  1576.  His  descent  is  trade 
from  the  De  Gorrams,  of  La  Tanniere, 
near  the  village  of  Gorram  in  Maine  on 
the  borders  of  Brittany  as  early  as  the 
beginning  of  the  twelfth  century.  In 
1 158,  Giles  De  Gorham,  led  an  expedition 
to  the  Holy  Land  and  returned  to  La  Tan- 
niere in  1 162.  Several  of  the  family  fol- 
lowed William  the  Conqueror  to  Eng- 
land. The  Gothambury  Manor  in  Hert- 
fordshire was  in  the  possession  of  the 
Gorhams  from  quite  early  in  the  twelfth 
century  until  1307,  when  John  and  his 
wife,  Isabella,  sold  the  reversion  of  the 
estate  after  their  deaths  and  thus  it  passed 
from  the  family.  In  1338,  a  William  de 
Gorham  was  living  in  Oundle,  a  place 
near  Benefield. 

(II)  Ralph  Gorham,  son  of  James  Gor- 
ham, was  born  in  1575  m  Benefield.     He 


died  about  1643.  He  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  New  England,  and  was  in  Plymouth 
in  1636. 

(III)  Captain  John  Gorham,  son  of 
Ralph  Gorham,  was  baptized  in  Benefield, 
England,  January  28,  1620-21,  and  came  to 
New  England  in  1635  in  the  ship  "Philip." 
He  married,  in  1643,  Desire  Howland, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Tilly) 
Howland  (a  Mayflower  passenger)  and 
granddaughter  of  John  Tilly  and  wife 
Vandevelde,  who  also  came  in  the  "May- 
flower." On  October  4,  1675,  John  Gor- 
ham was  appointed  captain  of  the  Sec- 
ond Company  of  Plymouth  forces  in  King 
Philip's  War,  and  died  from  exposure  in 
the  Great  Swamp  Fight.  He  was  buried 
February  5,  1675-76,  in  Swansea,  Massa- 
chusetts. Desire  Howland,  born  in  Ply- 
mouth in  1623,  was  one  of  the  first  chil- 
dren born  in  the  Colony.  She  died  Octo- 
ber 13,  1683,  in  Barnstable,  Massachu- 
setts. In  1646  Captain  Gorham  removed 
to  Marshfield,  where  two  years  later  he 
was  chosen  constable.  He  was  made 
freeman  in  1650;  was  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Inquest  in  1651  ;  removed  to  Yar- 
mouth in  1652.  There  he  was  elected  to 
the  Plymouth  Colony  Court  in  1653.  He 
was  surveyor  of  wards  in  1654 ;  selectman 
of  Barnstable  in  1673-74;  in  1673  was  ap- 
pointed lieutenant  of  the  Plymouth  force 
in  the  Dutch  War.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  tanner,  and  also  owned  a  grist  mill. 
In  1669  the  Plymouth  Court  granted  him 
one  hundred  acres  at  Papasquosh  Neck, 
and  in  1677  confirmed  the  grant  to  his 
heirs  forever  for  the  services  he  had  per- 
formed. A  similar  grant  of  land  in  Gor- 
ham, Maine,  was  also  participated  in  by 
his  heirs. 

(IV)  Jabez  Gorham,  son  of  Captain 
John  and  Desire  (Howland)  Gorham, 
was  born  in  Barnstable,  Massachusetts, 
August  3,  1656.  He  married  a  widow, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Gray,  daughter  of  Edward 

51 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


and  Alice  or  Elizabeth  Sturges.  He  died 
May  3,  1725,  in  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  and 
she  died  March  13,  1739.  He  also  served 
in  King  Philip's  War  and  was  wounded. 
In  1680  he  was  constable  in  Yarmouth, 
Massachusetts,  and  on  the  Grand  Inquest 
in  1683. 

(V)  Joseph  Gorham,  son  of  Jabez  and 
Hannah  (Gray)  Gorham,  was  born  in 
Bristol,  Rhode  Island.  Concerning  his 
marriage,  historians  differ.  The  Gorham 
chart  in  the  Fairfield  Family  Book  states 
that  he  married  Abigail  Lockwood,  of 
Fairfield,  April  7,  or  May  II,  1715.  She 
was  born  November  28,  1694,  and  died 
January  23,  1724-25.  Orcutt's  "History  of 
Stratford"    states    that    Joseph    Gorham 

married    (first)    Sarah    ,    and    was 

then  of  Stratford.  The  Sturges  geneal- 
ogy gives  Sarah  Sturges  as  the  name  of 
his  wife.  There  is  a  dispute  that  he  mar- 
ried a  Sarah  at  all  unless  he  was  thrice 
married.  He  married  (second  or  third) 
Deborah  Barlow,  daughter  of  John  and 
Abigail  (Lockwood)  Barlow,  January  13, 
1725-26.  She  was  born  May  3,  1705-06, 
and  died  January  25,  1778.  He  removed 
from  Bristol  and  was  in  Stratford  as  early 
as  1715.     He  was  a  cordwainer  by  trade. 

(VI)  Isaac  Gorham,  son  of  Joseph  Gor- 
ham, was  born  November  14,  1730,  ac- 
cording to  the  Fairfield  Family  Book. 
The  Fairfield  church  records  give  date  of 
his  baptism  as  September  30,  1729,  while 
his  tombstone  in  the  Sanfordtown  Church 
in  Redding  gives  his  age  as  sixty-eight 
years,  eights  months,  ten  days,  when  he 
died  July  4,  1798,  and  this  would  make 
his  birthday,  October  24,  1729.  On  July 
25,  1752,  he  married  Ann  Wakeman,  born 
October  24,  1728,  and  died  June  11,  1808, 
daughter  of  Joseph,  Jr.  and  Abigail  (Al- 
len) Wakeman.  The  town  of  Redding 
deeded  him  part  of  a  highway  on  the 
easterly  side  of  the  Mill  Common,  De- 
cember 13,  1769.  His  negro  slave,  "Tone," 


was  baptized  April  11,  1772.  Isaac  Gor- 
ham and  Ann  Gorham,  were  received  into 
the  church  in  Redding  on  producing  a 
certificate  of  Greens  Farms,  and  were  in 
good  standing  there  January  24,  1762.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  river  run- 
ning to  Saugautuck,  about  one-quarter  of 
a  mile  west  of  their  homestead. 

(VII)  Isaac  (2)  Gorham,  son  of  Isaac 
(1)  and  Ann  (Wakeman)  Gorham,  was 
born,  according  to  his  tombstone,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1761,  and  died  in  Redding,  May  4, 
1813.  He  married,  March  4,  1780,  Sarah 
Morgan,  born  October  21,  1763,  died  Jan- 
uary 7,  or  17,  1836,  daughter  of  John 
Morgan.  Their  daughter  Anna  M.  married 
Walter  Whitlock  (see  Whitlock  line). 

(The  Morgan  Line). 

Sarah  (Morgan)  Gorham,  who  on 
March  4,  1780,  married  Isaac  Gorham,  Jr., 
died  January  7  or  17,  1836,  aged  seventy- 
two  years,  two  months  and  sixteen  days, 
according  to  her  tombstone  in  the  Red- 
ding Cemetery. 

John  Morgan,  father  of  Sarah  (Mor- 
gan) Gorham,  was  born  December  27, 
1736.  He  married,  January  or  February, 
1758,  Joanna  Banks,  born  December  1, 
1739,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Joanna 
Banks. 

Captain  James  Morgan,  father  of  John 
Morgan,  was  born  April  1  or  2,  1716,  in 
Eachchester,  New  York.  He  married 
(first)  April  7,  1736,  Anne  Morehouse, 
born  September  14,  1718,  daughter  of 
John  and  Ruth  (Barlow)  Morehouse.  He 
served  in  Captain  Bradley's  company  for 
relief  of  Fort  William  Henry.  He  rode 
on  horseback  from  Fairfield,  and  served 
sixteen  days  from  August  7  to  August  23, 

1757- 

James  Morgan,  father  of  Captain  James 
Morgan,  married  Abigail  Fowler,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Fowler,  Sr.,  of  Eastchester, 
New  York. 


152 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Charles  Morgan,  father  of  James  Mor- 
gan, married  Elizabeth  Feke,  daughter  of 
Widow  Mary  Feke.  The  latter  made  her 
will,  June  20,  1691. 

Charles  Morgan,  father  of  Charles  Mor- 
gan, came,  it  is  said,  from  Wales.  He 
married  (first)  February  9,  1648,  in  New 
Amsterdam,  Helena  Applegate.  He  mar- 
ried (second)  Catlyntje  Hendricks. 

(The  Banks  Line) 

(I)  This  branch  of  the  family  was  es- 
tablished in  America  by  John  Bank,  prob- 
ably a  native  of  England.  He  spent  some 
years  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  where 
he  was  town  clerk  in  1643.  There  he  mar- 
ried Mary  Taintor,  daughter  of  Charles 
Taintor,  who  afterwards  also  located  in 
Fairfield.  Soon  after  1649,  with  Roger 
Ludlow,  deputy  governor,  he  went  to 
Fairfield,  where  he  was  granted  a  home 
lot,  and  also  acquired  land  by  purchase. 
He  was  a  lawyer  and  at  once  took  an  im- 
portant part  in  public  affairs.  From  165 1 
to  1666,  he  represented  Fairfield  in  the 
General  Assembly.  Later  he  settled  in 
Rye,  New  York,  and  from  1670  to  1673 
represented  that  town  in  the  General  As- 
sembly. About  1675-76,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  Indian  Council. 

(II)  Benjamin  Banks,  son  of  John 
Bank,  was  married,  June  29,  1679,  to 
Elizabeth  Lyon,  daughter  of  Richard 
Lyon.     Benjamin  Banks  died  about  1693. 

(III)  Joseph  Banks,  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Elizabeth  (Lyon)  Banks,  was  born 
December  29,  1691,  and  died  January  4, 
1766.  He  married,  June  25,  1712,  Mary 
Sherwood,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Sarah  Sherwood.  Both  were  admitted 
to  the  Greenfield  church,  July  10,  1726. 
Mrs.  Banks  died  June  13,  1779. 

(IV)  Deacon  Joseph  (2)  Banks,  son  of 
Joseph  (1)  and  Mary  (Sherwood)  Banks, 
was  born  April  12,  1713.  He  married,  in 
Greenfield,  March  29,  1737,  his  first  cous- 


in, Joanna  Banks,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Ruth  (Hyatt)  Banks.  He  settled  in 
Redding,  Connecticut,  and  died  July  8, 
1802.  Their  daughter,  Joanna  Banks, 
married  John  Morgan. 

(The  Morehouse  Line). 

(I)  Thomas  Morehouse,  the  immigrant, 
was  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  in 
1640.  He  removed  to  Stamford,  Connec- 
ticut, the  following  year,  and  in  1653 
bought  twenty-four  acres  of  land  on 
"Sasco  Hill,"  and  ten  days  later  bought 
the  grist  mill  there.  He  died  in  1658. 
Thomas  Morehouse  married  Isabel 
Keeler,  daughter  of  Ralph  Keeler,  sup- 
posed to  have  been  his  second  wife  and 
not  the  mother  of  his  children. 

(II)  Lieutenant  Samuel  Morehouse, 
son  of  Thomas  Morehouse,  was  born  in 
Fairfield,  Connecticut,  as  early  as  1637. 
He  was  granted  land  in  the  "Long  Lots," 
extending  back  to  near  the  center  of  Red- 
ding. He  died  in  1687.  He  married  Re- 
becca O'Dell,  daughter  of  William  and 
Rebecca  O'Dell,  of  Concord,  Massachu- 
setts. The  latter  were  in  Southampton, 
Long  Island,  in  1642,  and  later  in  Fair- 
field, Connecticut.  Their  daughter  was 
baptized  in  Concord  in  1639. 

(III)  John  Morehouse,  son  of  Lieuten- 
ant Samuel  and  Rebecca  (O'Dell)  More- 
house, was  born  in  Fairfield,  Connecticut, 
a  "yeoman,"  as  early  as  1668.  He  died 
there  in  1727.  John  Morehouse  married 
Ruth  Barlow,  daughter  of  John,  Jr.  and 
Abigail  (Lockwood)  Barlow.  John  Bar- 
low,  Sr.   married   Ann.  or  Anna  . 

His  will  is  dated  May  28,  1674.  Thomas 
Barlow  married  Rose,  daughter  of  Tho- 
mas Sherwood,  and  widow  of  Thomas 
Rumble.  She  was  eleven  years  old  when 
her  father,  Thomas  Sherwood,  Sr.,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1634.  Thomas  Bar- 
low's will  is  dated  September  8,  1658,  and 
mentions  his  wife  and  seven  daughters, 


153 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


but  no  sons.  John  Barlow,  Sr.  was  living 
at  the  time  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  some 
genealogists  that  he  was  the  son  of  Tho- 
mas Barlow,  even  though  not  mentioned 
in  his  will. 

(IV)  Ann  Morehouse,  daughter  of  John 
and  Ruth  (Barlow)  Morehouse,  was  bap- 
tized November  2,  1716.  According  to 
her  father's  will,  in  1727,  she  was  then 
eleven  years  old,  but  according  to  the 
Family  Book,  Fairfield,  she  was  born 
September  14,  1718.  She  married,  April 
7,  1736,  Captain  James  Morgan.  She  died 
November  5,  1735. 

(The  Slason-Slawson  Line). 

(I)  George  Slason  made  his  will,  De- 
cember 19,  1694,  and  changed  it  the  fol- 
lowing January.  He  speaks  of  his  wife, 
who  was  then  alive,  and  three  children, 
Eleazer,  John  and  Hannah. 

(II)  John  Slawson,  youngest  son  of 
George  Slason,  was  born  in  1645.  He 
married  (first)  November  12,  1663,  Sarah 
Tuttle,  daughter  of  William  Tuttle,  of 
New  Haven.  She  was  baptized  in  April, 
1642,  and  was  killed  by  her  brother,  Ben- 
jamin, with  an  axe,  November  17,  1676. 
He  was  supposed  to  be  insane,  but  was 
executed,  June  13,  1677.  John  Slawson 
married  (second)  Elizabeth  Benedict, 
daughter  of  Deacon  Thomas  Benedict,  of 
Norwalk,  Connecticut. 

(III)  Jonathan  Slawson,  second  son 
and  third  child  of  John  and  Sarah  (Tuttle) 
Slawson,  was  born  July  25,  1670-71.  At 
his  death,  November  19,  1727,  he  was 
called  ensign.  He  married  (first)  Febru- 
ary 4,  1 699- 1 700,  Mary  Waterbury,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Waterbury,  of  Stamford.  She 
was  born  March  20,  1679,  and  died  May 
12,  1710.  He  married  (second)  July  n, 
171 1,  Rose  Stevens,  born  October  14, 
1683,  daughter  of  Obediah  and  Rebecca 
(Rose)  Stevens. 

(IV)  David  Slawson,  son  of  Jonathan 


and  Rose  (Stevens)  Slawson,  was  born 
December  28,  1713.  He  married,  in  April, 
1735,  Eunice  Scofield.  David  Slawson 
was  in  service  sixteen  days  in  1757,  in  a 
militia  company  under  Captain  David 
Hanford,  of  Norwalk,  Colonel  Jonathan 
Hait's  regiment,  on  alarm  for  relief  of 
Fort  Henry. 

(V)  Jonathan  (2)  Slawson,  son  of  Da- 
vid and  Eunice  (Scofield)  Slawson,  was 
born  February  28,  1736-37,  and  died  Au- 
gust 31,  1820,  in  New  Canaan.  He  mar- 
ried, December  2,  1762,  Lydia  Lockwood, 
born  February  9,  1741-42,  daughter  of 
Robert  Lockwood. 

(VI)  Jonas  Slawson,  son  of  Jonathan 
(2)  and  Lydia  (Lockwood)  Slawson,  was 
born  February  19,  1780.  He  married,  June 
3,  1802,  Hannah  Wright,  born  December 
9,  1785,  daughter  of  Dennis  and  Lois 
(Newel)  Wright.  Dennis  Wright  was 
born  April  19,  1761,  and  married,  March 
14,  1781,  Lois  Newel,  born  July  9,  1756. 
They  apparently  lived  at  one  time  in  Nor- 
walk, and  also  owned  land  in  New  Can- 
aan. Research  has  thus  far  not  disclosed 
the  immediate  antecedents  of  Dennis 
Wright,  but  it  is  supposed  that  he  came 
from  the  Long  Island  family  of  that  name. 

(VII)  Betsey  M.  Slawson,  daughter 
of  Jonas  and  Hannah  (Wright)  Slawson, 
born  September  20,  1814,  died  February 
20,  1876.  She  married  Wakeman  Whit- 
lock,  and  was  the  mother  of  Sarah  J. 
Whitlock,  who  became  the  wife  of  George 
Gregory. 

(The  Lockwood  Line). 

Lydia  Lockwood,  who  married  Jona- 
than Slawson,  December  22,  1762,  was 
born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  February 
9,  1741,  according  to  the  Lockwood  gen- 
ealogy ;  the  family  Bible,  however,  gives 
the  year  1742. 

Robert  Lockwood,  father  of  Lydia 
(Lockwood)  Slawson,  was  born  in  Green- 
wich, Connecticut,  in  1714.     He  married, 


154 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


in  June,  1739,  Rachel  or  Jane  Stevens,  and 
soon  after  removed  to  Norwalk,  Connec- 
ticut. He  was  in  Salem,  New  York,  be- 
tween 1746  and  1750,  and  was  of  New- 
burgh,  in  1775. 

Still  John  Lockwood,  father  of  Robert 
Lockwood,  was  born  about  1674,  in 
Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  died  in  1758. 

Jonathan  Lockwood,  father  of  Still 
John  Lockwood,  was  born  September  10, 
1634,  in  Watertown,  Massachusetts.  On 
October  16,  1660,  he  was  of  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  five  years  later  sold  his 
estate  there,  removing  to  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  was  one  of  the  twenty- 
seven  proprietors.  In  1671  he  served  as 
assistant.  His  death  occurred  May  12, 
1688.  He  married  Mary  (Marah)  Ferris, 
daughter  of  Jeffrey  Ferris,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Robert  Lockwood,  father  of  Jonathan 
Lockwood,  came  from  England  about 
1630,  and  in  1641  was  settled  in  Fairfield, 
Connecticut.    There  he  died  in  1658. 


GREGORY,  Henry  Whitmore, 

Judge  of  Probate. 

Henry  Whitmore  Gregory,  son  of 
George  and  Sarah  Jane  (Whitlock)  Greg- 
ory (q.  v.),  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, November  24,  1867.  He  attended 
the  grammar  schools  of  New  Haven,  and 
prepared  for  college  at  the  Stamford  High 
School.  In  1891  he  was  graduated  from 
the  Sheffield  Scientific  School  with  the 
degree  of  Ph.B.  Subsequently  he  read 
law  under  the  preceptorship  of  J.  Belden 
Hurlburt,  of  Norwalk,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1893.  Under  the  firm  name 
of  Hurlburt  &  Gregory,  he  practiced  law 
until  March,  1900.  In  the  latter  year  Mr. 
Gregory  was  elcted  judge  of  probate  and 
he  has  held  this  office  continuously  since 
that  time. 

The  voters  of  both  parties  are  respon- 


sible for  Judge  Gregory's  long  service  in 
the  public  interest.  They  have  recognized 
his  special  fitness  to  administer  probate 
matters.  He  knows  the  law ;  his  mind  is 
logical,  and  his  sense  of  fairness  strong. 
Among  his  fellow-citizens  he  is  held  in 
the  highest  esteem.  Other  interests  of 
Judge  Gregory  include :  Director  of  the 
Fairfield  County  Savings  Bank ;  president 
of  the  Lounsbury  &  Bissell  Company,  felt 
manufacturers.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons ;  Washington 
Chapter,  No.  24,  Royal  Arch  Masons; 
Council,  Royal  and  Select  Mas- 
ters ;  the  Norwalk  Club ;  the  Norwalk 
Country  Club. 

Judge  Gregory  married  Eleanor  Ida 
Miller,  daughter  of  Christian  Miller,  of 
Stamford.  With  his  wife,  Judge  Gregory 
attends  Grace  Episcopal  Church  and  aids 
in  the  support  of  its  good  works. 


GREGORY,  William  Harvey, 
Dentist. 

William  Harvey  Gregory,  son  of  George 
and  Sarah  Jane  (Whitlock)  Gregory  (q. 
v.),  was  born  June  18,  1875,  in  New 
Haven,  Connecticut.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Darien.  In  1894  he 
graduated  from  the  South  Norwalk  High 
School,  and  subsequent  to  this  time  was 
engaged  for  a  year  in  teaching  school.  He 
entered  the  New  York  College  of  Dentis- 
try and  was  graduated  from  there  in  1898 
with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  S.  In  July  of  the 
same  year  Dr.  Gregory  engaged  in  prac- 
tice. His  work  is  of  a  general  nature,  al- 
though he  makes  a  specialty  of  treating 
teeth.  Dr.  Gregory  is  among  the  leading 
citizens  of  Stamford,  and  is  much  inter- 
ested in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of 
that  city.  He  is  a  member  of  Puritan 
Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows ;  St.  John's  Club.    He  is  also  a  mem- 


155 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


ber  of  the  Connecticut  State  Dental  Asso- 
ciation and  of  the  National  Dental  Asso- 
ciation. 

On  December  II,  1904,  Dr.  Gregory 
married  Harriet  Martha  Post,  daughter 
of  Nicolas  Post,  of  Staten  Island,  now 
residing  in  Perth  Amboy,  New  Jersey. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.  Gregory  died  when 
she  was  eleven  days  old  and  she  was 
reared  by  an  aunt,  Mrs.  Eben  Bouton,  of 
South  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  she  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Bouton.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Gregory  are  the  parents  of  two  children : 
Lois  Harriet,  born  November  13,  1905, 
and  Henry  William,  born  January  16, 
I9I5- 


GREGORY,  Ira  Oswin, 

Lawyer,    Useful    Citizen. 

Ira  Oswin  Gregory,  youngest  son  of 
George  and  Sarah  Jane  (Whitlock)  Greg- 
ory (q.  v.),  was  born  May  21,  1881,  in 
Weston,  Connecticut.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Darien  and  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut,  and  graduated  from 
the  Yale  Law  School  in  the  class  of  1904, 
with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  For  six  years 
following  his  graduation,  Mr.  Gregory 
was  associated  with  the  legal  firm  of 
Walsh  &  Hubbell,  of  Norwalk,  and  subse- 
quently engaged  in  practice  on  his  own 
account.  His  practice  is  a  general  one 
with  a  large  proportion  of  real  estate  law. 
He  has  met  with  success  in  his  profes- 
sion and  this  has  been  well  deserved,  the 
just  reward  of  diligence  and  attention  to 
details.  In  the  public  life  of  Norwalk 
Mr.  Gregory  has  taken  his  place  as  an 
alert  and  public-spirited  citizen,  and  all 
matters  of  public  interest  are  his  interests. 
It  seems  especially  fitting  to  find  the 
scions  of  the  oldest  Colonial  families  oc- 
cupying places  of  prominence  and  pres- 
tige in  the  communities.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  to  become  interested  in  the  Boy 


Scouts,  and  was  first  president  of  the 
Norwalk  Council,  serving  for  several 
years,  and  has  held  many  other  offices, 
evincing  a  decided  interest  in  that  move- 
ment. Mr.  Gregory  is  a  Mason  in  fra- 
ternal afiiliation,  and  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons ;  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks ;  and  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 

Mr.  Gregory  married  Edna  Baker, 
daughter  of  Edward  V.  and  Carrie  E. 
(Duncan)  Baker.  Mrs.  Gregory  is  a 
granddaughter  of  Tallmadge  Baker,  ex- 
treasurer  of  Connecticut. 


JENNINGS,  Stanley  T., 

Lawyer,   Public    Official. 

Stanley  T.  Jennings,  son  of  James 
Stanley  and  Harriet  Emily  (Ritch) 
Jennings,  was  born  January  9,  1873,  at 
Greenwich,  Connecticut.  Mr.  Jennings 
graduated  from  the  New  York  Law 
School  in  1894,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Connecticut  bar  at  Bridgeport,  in  July, 
1894,  and  ever  since  has  practiced  law, 
first  in  Greenwich,  his  native  town,  for 
three  years,  and  afterward  in  Stamford. 
For  more  than  twenty  years  he  was  a 
partner  of  the  late  Edwin  L.  Scofield, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Scofield  &  Jen- 
nings. Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Scofield 
he  has  continued  the  practice  of  law 
alone.  He  has  held  the  following  public 
offices :  Deputy  judge  of  the  City  Court 
of  Stamford  for  two  terms ;' corporation 
counsel  of  the  city  of  Stamford  for  two 
terms ;  and  town  counsel  of  Stamford  for 
two  years,  and  also  for  the  town  of  Da- 
rien. At  present  he  holds  no  public  office, 
and  does  not  enter  actively  in  politics  as 
he  did  in  former  years. 

The  ancient  family  of  Jennings  is  of 
English-Saxon  origin,  having  been  seated 
in  Yorkshire  prior  to  the  Norman  Con- 


156 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


quest.  The  name  has  been  variously 
spelled  Jennyns,  Jennes,  as  well  as  in  the 
modern  form,  Jennings. 

Joshua  Jennings,  founder  of  the  Amer- 
ican branch  of  the  family,  was  born  in 
England  about  1620  to  1625,  and  emi- 
grated to  the  New  England  Colony  about 
1645  to  io47-  In  the  latter  year  he  was 
in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  later  re- 
moved to  Fairfield,  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Jennings  was 
Orin  S.  Jennings,  and  his  gradmother  was 
Mary  Esther  Partrick,  both  born  in 
Ridgefield,  Connecticut,  and  later  re- 
moved to  North  Wilton,  where  they  both 
died. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Jennings  was  Har- 
riet Emily  Ritch,  who  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage  to  James  S.  Jennings  lived  in 
Greenwich,  Connecticut.  Her  father  was 
Rufus  Ritch,  and  her  mother  was  Ma- 
haley  Lockwood.  Mr.  Jennings  had  five 
sisters,  all  of  whom  are  living  and  named 
as  follows:  1.  Sarah  O.,  widow  of  J.  B. 
Hendrie,  of  Stamford,  Connecticut.  2. 
Mary  Emma,  widow  of  Thomas  Newton, 
a  contractor  of  Hartford.  3.  Alice  D., 
widow  of  Thomas  Lilly,  of  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut. 4.  Lizzie,  who  married  Edward 
F.  W.  Gillespie,  of  Stamford.  5.  Mar- 
garet Eugenia,  unmarried,  of  Stamford. 

Stanley  T.  Jennings  married,  in  No- 
vember, 1894,  Lucy  Holmes  Hendrie, 
daughter  of  Joshua  B.  Hendrie,  of  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  and  by  her  had  three 
children,  now  (1921),  all  living:  Adrian 
Hendrie,  Laurence  Ritch;  and  Margaret 
Isabel,  who  married  Harry  Murray  of 
Stamford. 


PERDUE,  Robert  E., 

Physician,  Specialist. 

No  list  of  the  leading  physicians,  not 
of  Norwalk   alone,  but  also  of   Fairfield 


county,  would  be  complete  without  the 
name  we  have  just  written  at  the  head  of 
this  article.  Dr.  Perdue  has  a  record  of 
honorable  service  in  the  late  war,  and  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  profes- 
sional and  fraternal  organizations  of  his 
community. 

The  name  Perdue,  which  is  variously 
written  Purdew,  Purdey,  Purdie,  Purdy, 
and  Purdye,  appears  to  be  a  corruption  of 
the  old  ejaculatory  expression  derived 
from  the  French  "perdie,"  used  thus  in 
Spenser's  "Fairie  Queen":  "That  red- 
cross  knight,  perdie,  I  never  slew." 

Loren  O.  Perdue,  father  of  Robert  E. 
Perdue,  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  a  man  of  superior  education.  At 
an  early  age  he  became  a  teacher,  and 
later  a  professor  at  Purdue  University. 
In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  retired  to 
a  farm  in  Louisiana,  where  he  died  in 
1912.  Prof.  Perdue  married  Isabel  Aiken, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Van- 
derhoof)  Aiken.  Robert  Aiken  was  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years  came  with  a  sister  to  the  United 
States.  He  became  a  very  successful 
farmer,  removing  in  1838  from  Coshocton 
county  to  McArthur,  and  owning  one  of 
the  first  sawmills  ever  built  and  operated 
in  Ohio.  His  marriage  took  place  in  Mc- 
Arthur, Ohio,  and  he  and  his  wife  became 
the  parents  of  two  daughters  and  a  son : 
Alice,  married  Ira  Wood,  of  Webster, 
Ohio,  and  is  now  deceased ;  Martha,  mar- 
ried D.  A.  Engle,  of  Logan,  Hocking 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  also  deceased ;  and 
Robert  E.,  mentioned  below.  The  family 
were  all  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Robert  E.  Perdue,  son  of  Loren  O.  and 
Isabel  (Aiken)  Perdue,  was  born  in  Mc- 
Arthur, Ohio,  June  7,  1875.  He  received 
his  preparatory  education  in  public  schools 
of  his  native  town,  passing  thence  to  the 


157 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Ohio  State  University  and  then  entering 
the  Starling  Medical  School  at  Columbus. 
From  the  latter  institution  he  graduated 
in  1895  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine. 

After  a  year  spent  in  gaining  experience 
in  St.  Francis'  Hospital  in  Columbus,  Dr. 
Perdue  removed  to  Southport,  Connecti- 
cut, in  1896,  where  he  remained  nine 
years.  In  1907  he  established  himself  in 
Norwalk,  where,  as  a  general  practitioner 
and  also  specialist  of  children's  diseases, 
he  has  built  up  a  large  and  profitable 
clientele.  He  has  for  some  years  served 
on  the  staff  of  the  Norwalk  Hospital,  of 
which  he  was  in  1920  vice-president,  and 
president  in  1921. 

During  the  World  War  Dr.  Perdue  was 
in  service  from  August,  191 7,  to  Febru- 
ary, 1919,  being  appointed  medical  officer 
of  the  Engineer  Officers'  Training  School 
at  Lee  and  Camp  Humphries,  serving  al- 
so at  the  latter  place  as  camp  surgeon. 
Enlisting  as  captain,  he  was  advanced 
shortly  after  enlisting  in  the  service  to  the 
rank  of  major,  and  still  holds  that  rank 
in  the  Reserve  Corps  of  the  United  States 
army. 

The  professional  organizations  in  which 
Dr.  Perdue  is  enrolled  include  the  Nor- 
walk Medical  Society,  the  Fairfield  Coun- 
ty Medical  Society,  the  Connecticut  Med- 
ical Society,  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  He  affiliates  with  St.  John's 
Lodge,  No.  6,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; 
Butler  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons ;  and 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  all  of  Norwalk.  He  also  affiliates 
with  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  of 
Norwalk,  and  his  only  club  is  the  Nor- 
walk. 

Dr.  Perdue  married  Mary  Bernard, 
daughter  of  David  F.  and  Catherine  Ber- 
nard, of  Norwalk. 

The  record  of  Dr.  Perdue,  now  covering 
a  period  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century, 


gives  him  high  standing  in  his  chosen 
profession,  and  as  he  is  now  in  the  prime 
of  life  it  conveys  assurance  that  further 
distinction  awaits  him  in  the  years  to 
come. 


TENNY,  Robert  Mack, 

Manufacturer. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  business  men 
of  South  Norwalk  have  no  more  aggres- 
sive representative  than  the  one  they 
possess  in  the  citizen  whose  name  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  article.  Mr.  Tenny  is 
actively  interested  in  all  that  concerns  the 
welfare  of  his  community,  and  is  well 
known  in  its  fraternal  and  social  circles. 

The  Tenny  family  is  of  English  origin, 
and  the  name  is  probably  an  abbreviation 
of  Tennyson,  or  Tenison,  perhaps  the 
same  as  Tynesende.  Albert  S.  Tenny, 
father  of  Robert  Mack  Tenny,  was  born 
in  Winchester,  New  Hampshire,  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm.  As  a  young  man  he 
went  to  Boston,  where  for  some  years  he 
was  employed  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods 
business.  He  then  entered  the  service  of 
W.  W.  Lewisohn  &  Son,  umbrella  manu- 
facturers, and  before  long  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm.  He  was  a  man  of  ability 
and  energy,  and  continued  to  be  active  in 
the  business  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  affi- 
liated with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  Mr.  Tenny  married  Sadie  E. 
Nelson,  born  in  Foxboro,  Massachusetts, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Louisa  (Dill) 
Nelson,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
one  child,  Robert  Mack,  mentioned  be- 
low. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tenny  were  members 
of  the  Warren  Avenue  Baptist  Church, 
Boston.  The  death  of  Mr.  Tenny  occurred 
November  15,  1895. 

Robert  Mack  Tenny,  son  of  Albert  S. 
and  Sadie  E.  (Nelson)  Tenny,  was  born 
May  6,  1880,  in  Boston,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 


158 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


tive  city.  His  first  employment  was  in  a 
hotel,  and  after  a  time  he  became  a  clerk 
in  the  Adams  House,  Boston,  a  position 
which  he  retained  for  two  years.  He  was 
then  for  several  years  manager  of  the  old 
Bowdoin  Square  Hotel,  Boston. 

After  resigning  this  position,  Mr.  Tenny 
went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  became 
a  salesman  for  William  Hegeman  &  Com- 
pany, dealers  in"  bulbs  and  similar  prod- 
ucts. For  about  ten  years  he  remained 
with  this  concern,  during  the  first  two 
years  as  a  salesman  and  afterward  as  a 
member  of  the  firm.  He  was  a  factor  of 
importance  in  the  conduct  of  the  business 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Hegeman,  but 
shortly  after  that  event,  he  disposed  of  his 
interest  and  severed  his  connection  with 
the  establishment. 

About  twelve  years  ago  Mr.  Tenny  be- 
came a  resident  of  South  Norwalk.  Soon 
after  withdrawing  from  the  bulb  business 
he  had  associated  himself  with  the  auto- 
mobile industry  in  Ossining,  New  York, 
dealing  in  Dodge  and  Buick  cars,  but  on 
coming  to  South  Norwalk  he  turned  his 
attention  in  another  direction.  In  No- 
vember, 1919,  with  his  two  brothers-in- 
law,  Dr.  L.  M.  Allen,  of  South  Norwalk, 
and  J.  R.  Wrigley,  then  of  Bridgeport, 
but  now  of  South  Norwalk,  he  organized 
a  company  under  the  name  of  John  R. 
Wrigley,  Inc.,  the  object  being  the  man- 
ufacture of  paper  boxes.  The  firm  pur- 
chased the  Luther  Wright  building  in 
South  Norwalk  and  equipped  it  as  a  fac- 
tory, with  every  modern  facility  for  mak- 
ing paper  boxes.  They  employ  on  an  av- 
erage about  fifty  persons,  and  their  prod- 
uct is  sold  to  manufacturers  in  every  part 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

One  of  Mr.  Tenny's  dominant  charac- 
teristics is  love  of  music,  and  for  years 
he  has  found  in  playing  the  cornet  a 
means  of  rest  and  relaxation  from  the 
cares  of  business.     He  affiliates  with  Old 


Well  Lodge,  No.  108,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  South  Norwalk. 

Mr.  Tenny  married,  in  June,  1919, 
Amelia  Becker,  daughter  of  Frank  C.  and 
Amelia  (Grupe)  Becker,  of  Norwalk,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Robert 
Mack  Tenny,  Jr.,  born  April  3,  1920. 

Mr.  Tenny  is  now  enjoying  the  well- 
earned  fruits  of  his  energy  and  progres- 
siveness,  and  as  he  is  in  the  prime  of  life 
there  is  reason  to  expect  that  the  record 
of  the  coming  years  will  be  one  of  pros- 
perity and  accomplishment. 


JOHNSON,  Newton  Samuel, 

Business  Man,  Public  Official. 

That  this  is  the  name  of  one  of  her 
most  progressive  business  men  no  citizen 
of  Greenwich  needs  to  be  told,  for  while 
Mr.  Johnson's  place  of  business  is  in  Port 
Chester,  New  York,  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Greenwich  for  more  than  a  third 
of  a  century,  and  for  eleven  years  has 
filled  continuously  and  in  the  most  satis- 
factory manner  the  office  of  first  select- 
man. 

Charles  Wesley  Johnson,  father  of 
Newton  Samuel  Johnson,  was  born  Au- 
gust 22,  1831,  in  Concord,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  is  a  descendant  of  New  Eng- 
land ancestors.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
house  painter  and  decorator,  and  after  his 
marriage  moved  to  Pomfret,  Connecticut, 
where  he  engaged  in  this  occupation  dur- 
ing all  the  active  years  of  his  life.  Mr. 
Johnson  married  Elizabeth  Griggs,  born 
in  Hampton,  Connecticut,  daughter  of 
Jesse  Griggs,  and  of  the  eight  children 
born  to  them,  the  following  reached  ma- 
turity :  Elizabeth,  deceased ;  Harriet,  de- 
ceased ;  Anna,  deceased,  formerly  the  wife 
of  John  W.  Curtiss ;  Albert,  deceased ; 
George,  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts ; 
Newton  Samuel,  mentioned  below.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Johnson  were  members  of  the 


[59 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Congregational  church  in  Pomfret  On 
November  26,  1902,  Mrs.  Johnson  passed 
away,  and  after  this  sad  event,  her  hus- 
band retired  from  business.  He  is  still 
living,  being  now  in  the  eighty-ninth  year 
of  his  age  and  retaining,  to  a  wonderful 
degree  his  physical  and  mental  vigor, 
reading  without  the  aid  of  spectacles. 
His  children,  with  the  exception  of  George 
and  Newton  Samuel,  are  all  now  deceased. 

Newton  Samuel  Johnson,  son  of  Charles 
Wesley  and  Elizabeth  (Griggs)  Johnson, 
was  born  August  7,  1866,  in  Pomfret, 
Connecticut,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  birthplace.  He 
learned  the  business  of  a  butcher  and  for 
several  years  engaged  in  it,  during  a  por- 
tion of  that  time  having  his  own  estab- 
lishment. 

In  1882  Mr.  Johnson  removed  to  Green- 
wich and  for  about  ten  years  thereafter 
continued  to  carry  on  his  special  line  of 
business.  He  has  always  been  a  man  of 
much  enterprise  and  about  this  time 
availed  himself,  with  characteristic  alert- 
ness, of  an  opportunity  which  presented 
itself.  He  erected  a  plant  for  the  grind- 
ing of  feldspar  for  the  purpose  of  supply- 
ing the  potters  and  glassmakers  in  the 
Glenville  section  of  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, and  the  manner  in  which  the  busi- 
ness developed  proved  that  the  venture 
had  been  a  wise  one,  large  quantities  of 
crushed  stone  being  shipped  to  road  build- 
ers. At  the  end  of  fifteen  years,  the  sup- 
ply of  raw  material  being  exhausted,  Mr. 
Johnson  resumed  his  former  business  and 
for  seven  years  prospered  in  it,  disposing 
of  his  interests  in  1916. 

Two  years  prior  to  this  he  had  organ- 
ized the  firm  of  Eddy  &  Johnson,  in  Port 
Chester,  New  York,  and  after  about  eight- 
een months  had  purchased  the  interests 
of  his  partner.  Not  long  after,  he  asso- 
ciated   himself   with    Frederick   A.    Bier- 


mann,  the  firm  name  becoming  Johnson 
&  Biermann.  They  do  a  large  business 
in  auto  accessories,  farm  implements  and 
general  hardware,  maintaining  three  spa- 
cious warehouses. 

In  politics  Mr.  Johnson  has  always 
been  a  staunch  Republican,  and  in  Octo- 
ber, 1909,  was  elected  first  selectman.  He 
has  ever  since  received  regularly  the  tri- 
bute of  a  reelection  and  now  has  two 
years  of  his  present  term  still  to  serve. 

In  fraternal  affairs  Mr.  Johnson  is  very 
active.  He  affiliates  with  Acacia  Lodge, 
No.  85,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
Greenwich,  as  well  as  with  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Knights  of  Py- 
thias, and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  these  three  organizations 
being  also  of  Greenwich.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  Christ  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  of  their  home  town. 

Mr.  Johnson  married  Hattie  Pine, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Augusta  Pine, 
and  a  native  of  New  York  State.  By 
this  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are 
the  parents  of  two  sons:  1.  Samuel  Eu- 
gene, born  May  2,  1895,  now  with  Wil- 
liam R.  Grace  &  Company,  exporters,  of 
New  York;  he  served  sixteen  months  in 
France  as  a  member  of  Company  B,  Mili- 
tary Police,  Twenty-seventh  Division, 
and  was  cited  for  bravery.  2.  Charles  W., 
born  July  22,  1896;  now  associated  with 
his  father  in  the  hardware  business ;  mar- 
ried Beatrice  Sherwood,  of  Armonk,  New 
York,  and  they  have  one  child,  Charles 
W.,  Jr. 

Newton  Samuel  Johnson  has  made  a 
worthy  record  both  as  business  man  and 
public  official,  for  he  is  now  at  the  head 
of  a  flourishing  concern,  and  has  received 
from  his  fellow-citizens  convincing  proof 
of  their  confidence  in  his  ability  to  serve 
them  and  his  disinterested  zeal  in  doing 
so. 


160 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


KNAPP,  Nathaniel  Augustus, 

Legislator,    Town   Official. 

The  office  now  so  ably  filled  by  Mr. 
Knapp  does  not  represent  his  first  ex- 
perience as  a  public  official,  but  has  come 
to  him  in  recognition  of  long  and  faithful 
service  to  his  community.  His  native 
town  of  Greenwich,  of  which  he  has  al- 
ways remained  a  resident,  has  called  him 
to  serve  her  in  various  capacities,  most 
notably  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 
He  has  shown  his  fidelity  by  his  loyal 
responsiveness,  and  his  effective,  disin- 
terested work. 

The  name  of  Knapp  is  of  very  ancient 
Teutonic  origin,  and  signifies  a  top,  or 
knob.  The  family  is  entitled  to  display 
the  following  escutcheon : 

Arms — Or,  in  chief,  three  close  helmets  sable; 
in  base  a  lion  passant,  of  the  last. 

Crest — An  arm  embowed,  in  armor,  proper,  gar- 
nished, or,  the  hand  of  the  first  grasping  by  the 
blade  a  broken  sword,  argent;  hilt  and  pommel  of 
the  second,  with  a  branch  of  laurel,  vert. 

Motto — Spes  nostra  Deus. 

(I)  Nicholas  Knapp,  founder  of  the 
families  of  Greenwich  and  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  Rye,  New  York,  came 
from  England  in  1630  with  Winthrop  and 
Saltonstall,  and  settled  first  in  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts,  removing  to  Weth- 
ersfield,  Connecticut,  and  finally  to  Stam- 
ford, where  he  died,  in  1670.    He  married 

(first)    at    Watertown,    Eleanor   ; 

she  died  in  1658;  he  married  (second) 
Unity,  widow  of  Peter  Brown  and  Clem- 
ent Buxton.  His  children  were  all  by  his 
first  wife. 

(II)  Joshua  Knapp,  son  of  Nicholas 
and  Eleanor  Knapp,  was  born  in  1634,  and 
was  one  of  the  original  patentees  named 
in  the  patent  granted  to  the  town  of 
Greenwich.  He  married  Hannah  Close, 
daughter  of  Gardener  Close,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  1684. 

Conn-8— 11  l6l 


(III)  Joshua  (2)  Knapp,  son  of  Joshua 

(1)  and  Hannah  (Close)  Knapp,  was  born 
in  1663,  and  married  (first)  Elizabeth 
Reynolds,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Rey- 
nolds ;   (second)   Abigail  Butler.     Joshua 

(2)  Knapp  died  some  time  prior  to  1750. 

(IV)  Jonathan  Knapp,  son  of  Joshua 

(2)  Knapp,  was  born  about  1702,  and 
married  Mary  Husted,  daughter  of  An- 
gell  Husted. 

(V)  Joshua  (3)  Knapp,  son  of  Jona- 
than and  Mary  (Husted)  Knapp,  was 
born  in  1729,  and  married  Eunice  Peck, 
daughter  of  Theophilus  and  Elizabeth 
(Mead)  Peck.  The  death  of  Joshua  (3) 
Knapp  occurred  in  1798. 

(VI)  Joshua  (4)  Knapp,  son  of  Joshua 

(3)  and  Eunice  (Peck)  Knapp,  was  born 
in  1 761,  and  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  married  Charity  Mead,  daugh- 
ter of  Nathaniel  Mead,  and  died  in  1831. 

(VII)  Nathaniel  Knapp,  son  of  Joshua 

(4)  and  Charity  (Mead)  Knapp,  was  born 
February  27,  1790,  in  Greenwich,  in  the 
section  of  the  town  known  as  Round  Hill. 
For  many  years  he  conducted  a  general 
store.  He  served  in  the  militia  with  the 
rank  of  colonel.  Mr.  Knapp  married 
Elizabeth  Close,  born  April  20,  1793, 
daughter  of  Odle  and  Hannah  (Brush) 
Close,  and  their  children  were :  Elizabeth, 
born  May  5,  1813,  died  in  1841 ;  Odle 
Close,  mentioned  below;  Joshua,  born 
October  19,  1818,  died  June  27,  1845 ;  Na- 
thaniel Augustus,  born  February  25, 
1821,  died  February  10,  1876;  Hannah 
Close,  born  June  4,  1823;  Eunice,  born 
March  29,  1826,  died  February  23,  1847; 
and  Sarah  Maria,  born  January  10,  1832, 
died  in  June,  1848.  Mr.  Knapp  died  Janu- 
ary 4,  1836,  and  his  widow  passed  away 
November  25,  1840. 

(VIII)  Odle  Close  Knapp,  son  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Elizabeth  (Close)  Knapp,  was 
born  May  26,  181 5,  in  Greenwich,  and 
succeeded  his  father  as  proprietor  of  the 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


store  at  Round  Hill,  being  then  only 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  had  grown 
up  to  the  business  and  when  it  became 
his  own,  conducted  it  successfully  for 
fifty  years.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
Greenwich  Trust  Company,  the  Green- 
wich Savings  Bank,  and  the  Greenwich 
Fire  Insurance  Company. 

Mr.  Knapp  married  (first)  in  1841, 
Caroline  B.  Hobby,  daughter  of  Guy  B. 
Hobby,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
two  children :  Caroline  C,  born  Novem- 
ber 28,  1843,  died  August  26,  1847;  a°d 
Joshua,  born  in  1846,  died  in  1869.  Mrs. 
Knapp  died  in  1848,  and  Mr.  Knapp  mar- 
ried (second)  Eunice  A.  Brown,  whose 
ancestral  record  is  appended  to  this  biog- 
raphy. The  children  born  of  this  mar- 
riage were  the  following:  Sarah,  born 
April  2,  1850,  died  January  31,  1879;  Caro- 
line, born  November  20,  1852,  married 
Edward  B.  Reynolds,  and  died  January 
24,  1878;  Anna  M.,  born  December  19, 
1854,  married  Irving  S.  Balcom,  a  phy- 
sician, and  died  April  19,  1891  ;  Charles 
O.,  born  January  5,  1857,  died  January  15, 
1913,  in  Saskatchewan;  Kate  Augusta, 
born  August  9,  1859,  married  Allen  A. 
Knapp,  and  is  now  deceased ;  John  F., 
born  April  19,  1861,  now  living  at  Ar- 
mour, South  Dakota ;  and  Nathaniel  Au- 
gustus, mentioned  below.  Mrs.  Knapp 
died  March  5,  1879,  and  Mr.  Knapp  mar- 
ried (third)  Mary  A.  Howland.  The 
death  of  Mr.  Knapp  occurred  November 
15,  1888.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational church,  a  man  of  strong 
character,  and  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
by  all  to  whom  he  was  known. 

(IX)  Nathaniel  Augustus  Knapp,  son 
of  Odle  Close  and  Eunice  A.  (Brown) 
Knapp,  was  born  June  9,  1864,  in  Green- 
wich, and  received  his  education  in  local 
public  schools  and  at  the  Chappaqua 
Mountain  Institute,  a  Friends'  private 
school  at  Chappaqua,  New  York.    At  age 


of  twenty-one  he  began  his  business  career 
in  his  father's  store,  succeeding  him  as 
owner  of  the  concern  and  conducting  it 
for  twenty-six  years.  He  then  sold  out 
and  engaged  in  business  as  an  auctioneer 
and  real  estate  agent,  following  these  two 
lines  of  endeavor  until  about  ten  years 
ago. 

For  some  years  Mr.  Knapp  was  vice- 
president  of  the  Greenwich  Savings 
Bank,  retaining  the  office  until  the  bank 
went  out  of  business.  He  was  pres- 
ident of  the  Greenwich  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company  until  that  institution  was 
dissolved,  and  is  now  a  director  of  the 
Greenwich  Trust  Company,  in  which  his 
father  formerly  held  a  directorship. 

Politically,  Mr.  Knapp  is  a  Republican 
and  has  long  taken  an  active  part  in  com- 
munity affairs.  For  about  two  years  he 
served  as  registrar  of  voters,  and  then  for 
four  years  filled  the  office  of  selectman. 
In  1899  he  represented  his  party  in  the 
Legislature,  serving  on  the  Insurance 
Committee,  and  proving  himself  the  dis- 
interested champion  of  the  rights  of  his 
constituents.  He  has  since  filled  the  of- 
fice of  selectman  for  two  years,  afterward 
serving  for  four  years  as  town  treasurer. 
In  1914  he  succeeded  to  the  office  of  high- 
way commissioner,  which  he  held  for  six 
years,  resigning  to  accept  again  the  office 
of  treasurer,  which  he  now  holds. 

The  fraternal  affiliations  of  Mr.  Knapp 
are  numerous.  He  is  past  master  of 
Acacia  Lodge,  No.  85,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  also  affiliating  with  Rittenhouse 
Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men ;  the  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  in 
which  he  was  first  exalted  ruler  of  his 
lodge ;  and  the  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics,  of  which  he  is  a 
past  counsellor.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and 
he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 

.62 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Congregational  church,  in  which  he  has 
for  years  held  the  office  of  treasurer.  He 
was  for  a  long  period  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Knapp  married,  February  7,  1889, 
Emma  Louise  Gilmore,  daughter  of 
Thomas  F.  Gilmore,  of  New  Haven,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter:  Charles  Stanley,  born  June  5,  1893, 
now  house  physician  at  Roosevelt  Hos- 
pital;  and  Anna  Louise,  born  April  21, 
1897. 

The  record  of  Nathaniel  Augustus 
Knapp  is  that  of  an  all-round  man,  able 
and  aggressive  in  business,  wise  and  far- 
seeing  in  public  affairs,  and  always  help- 
fully active  in  promoting  the  truest  and 
most  essential  interests  in  the  life  of  his 
community. 

(The  Brown  Line). 

(I)  Peter  Brown  was  born  in  England 
in  or  about  1610,  and  in  1638  emigrated  to 
New  Haven,  Connecticut.  About  1647 
he  removed  to  Stamford,  where  he  passed 
the   remainder  of  his   life.     He   married 

(first)  in  England,  Elizabeth ,  who 

was  the  mother  of  all  his  children,  and 
(second)  Unity  Buxton,  widow  of  Clem- 
ent Buxton.    Peter  Brown  died  in  1658. 

(II)  Hackaliah  Brown,  son  of  Peter 
and  Elizabeth  Brown,  was  born  in  1645, 
and  in  1665  settled  at  Rye,  New  York. 
He  married  (probably)  Mary  Hoit, 
daughter  of  John  Hoit,  of  Stamford  and 
Rye,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1720. 

(III)  Major  Hackaliah  (2)  Brown,  son 
of  Hackaliah  (1)  and  Mary  (Hoit) 
Brown,  was  born  about  1695,  and  mar- 
ried Ann  Kniffen.  He  died  in  1780,  and 
his  will  is  recorded  in  New  York  county. 

(IV)  Nehemiah  Brown,  son  of  Major 
Hackaliah  (2)  and  Ann  (Kniffen)  Brown, 
was  born  in  1726,  at  Greenwich,  and  mar- 
ried Sophia  Park,  daughter  of  Roger  and 
Charlotte  (Strang)  Park.  Nehemiah 
Brown  died  May  1,  1810. 


(V)  Major  Brown,  son  of  Nehemiah 
and  Sophia  (Park)  Brown,  was  born  in 
1758,  and  was  of  Round  Hill,  Connecti- 
cut. He  married  Ruth  Mead,  daughter  of 
Abram  and  Ruth  (Lyon)  Mead. 

(VI)  Abram  Brown,  son  of  Major  and 
Ruth  (Mead)  Brown,  was  born  in  1795. 

(VII)  Eunice  A.  Brown,  daughter  of 
Abram  Brown,  was  born  in  1822,  and 
became  the  wife  of  Odle  Close  Knapp,  as 
stated  above. 


KNAPP,  Charles  Whittemore, 

Physician,  Hospital  Official. 

That  this  is  the  name  of  one  of  the 
leading  representatives  of  the  medical 
fraternity  of  Greenwich  a  large  majority 
of  her  citizens  are  fully  aware.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  reputation  which  he  has  estab- 
lished in  his  home  city  Dr.  Knapp  has  a 
war  record  of  distinguished  service 
abroad. 

(I)  Harry  Knapp,  great-grandfather  of 
Dr.  Charles  Whittemore  Knapp,  was  a 
son  of  Samuel  Knapp,  and  a  descendant  of 
Nicholas  Knapp,  mentioned  at  length  in 
preceding  sketch. 

(II)  Henry  Cornelius  Knapp,  son  of 
Harry  Knapp,  married  Helena  Bucking- 
ham, and  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  was  a  resident  of  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut. 

(III)  Charles  Lincoln  Knapp,  son  of 
Henry  Cornelius  and  Helena  (Bucking- 
ham) Knapp,  was  born  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut.  He  graduated  from  the 
high  school  of  that  city.  As  a  young  man 
he  removed  to  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
where  he  lived  many  years.  He  became 
a  manufacturer  of  corsets  and  underwear, 
and  as  long  as  he  lived  was  engaged  in 
that  business.  His  later  years  were  spent 
in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  where  his 
home  and  place  of  business  were  both 
situated.  Mr.  Knapp  married  (first)  Lily 
Whittemore,    daughter    of    Franklin    J. 


163 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Whittemore.  The  original  home  of  the 
\\  hittemores  was  in  Hitchin,  Hertford- 
shire, England,  whence  Thomas  Whitte- 
more emigrated  to  Massachusetts,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Charles- 
town.  Of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Knapp,  Charles  Whittemore,  men- 
tioned below,  was  the  only  one  who 
reached  maturity.  Mrs.  Knapp  passed 
away  in  1895.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knapp  were 
members  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  which  Mr.  Knapp  was  an  active 
worker,  holding  at  different  times  various 
offices.  Mr.  Knapp  married  (second) 
Grace  Preston,  and  of  the  children  by  that 
marriage  only  one,  Aletta  B.,  is  now  liv- 
ing. The  death  of  Mr.  Knapp  occurred 
in  1917. 

(IV)  Dr.  Charles  Whittemore  Knapp, 
son  of  Charles  Lincoln  and  Lily  (Whit- 
temore) Knapp,  was  born  April  10,  1885, 
in  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  He  was 
educated  in  Phillips  Academy,  Andover, 
graduating  in  1904.  In  1908  Yale  Uni- 
versity conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  in  1912  he  received 
from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, New  York  City,  the  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Medicine.  In  1913  and  1914  he 
served  in  the  Roosevelt  Hospital,  and  he 
is  now  an  associate  in  medicine  in  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New 
York  City.  In  191 5  Dr.  Knapp  became 
a  resident  of  Greenwich,  where  he  has 
ever  since  been  engaged  in  active  practice, 
building  up  a  deservedly  high  reputation. 
His  specialty  is  internal  medicine  and 
pediatrics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  staff 
of  the  Greenwich  Hospital,  and  holds  the 
office  of  attending  physician  in  the  Van- 
derbilt  Clinic,  New  York  City. 

At  the  time  of  the  World  War,  Dr. 
Knapp  offered  his  services  to  the  govern- 
ment, and  in  1918  was  commissioned  first 
lieutenant  and  assigned  to  Camp  Jackson, 
South  Carolina,  where  he  remained  two 


months,  being  then  assigned  to  Fort  Ben- 
jamin Harrison.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  captain,  and  on  October  26,  1918, 
sailed  for  France,  where  for  nine  months 
he  served  as  chief  of  the  Medical  Service 
in  Brest  and  Tours.  In  May,  1919,  he 
was  promoted  to  major,  and  in  July  of 
that  year  was  discharged.  Among  the 
professional  organizations  in  which  Dr. 
Knapp  is  enrolled  are  the  medical  so- 
cieties of  the  City,  County  and  State  and 
the  American  Medical  Association.  He 
belongs  to  the  Military  Order  of  For- 
eign Wars,  the  Yale  Club  of  New  York, 
and  the  Psi  Upsilon  fraternity.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Congregational  church, 
his  wife  being  a  member  of  Christ  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church. 

Dr.  Knapp  married,  May  29,  1912, 
Phoebe  Baker,  daughter  of  William  and 
Hannah  (Griffin)  Baker,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  four  children :  Susan  J.,  born 
May  30,  1913 ;  Nancy  Buckingham,  born 
July  14,  1914 ;  Phoebe  Whittemore,  born 
January  16,  1916;  and  Jane  Lincoln,  born 
October  24,  1918. 

The  career  of  Dr.  Knapp  has  opened 
most  auspiciously.  In  its  early  years  he 
has  made  a  two-fold  record,  a  record  of 
honorable  service  both  in  peace  and  war, 
and  everything  indicates  that  the  years 
to  come  hold  assurance  of  further  achieve- 
ment and  still  more  pronounced  success. 


KNAPP,  Sylvester  Livingston, 
Real  Estate  Dealer. 

No  private  citizen  wields  greater  power 
for  or  against  the  welfare  and  progress  of 
a  community  than  does,  to  some  extent, 
every  man  to  whom  is  committed  the 
custody  of  its  real  estate  interests.  When 
any  one  representative  of  this  very  im- 
portant factor  in  the  development  of  every 
town  and  city  happens  to  be  a  man  of 
foresight  and  initiative,  the  future  of  the 


164 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


community,  insofar  as  it  falls  within  his 
own  sphere  of  action,  is  fully  assured. 
That  Mr.  Knapp  is  this  type  of  man  no 
citizen  of^  Stamford  needs  to  be  told,  nor 
does  any  one  require  to  be  informed  that 
to  business  ability  he  joins  public-spirited 
zeal  for  the  truest  interests  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  townsmen. 

(I)  Isaac  Knapp,  grandfather  of  Syl- 
vester Livingston  Knapp,  was  a  native  of 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  and  a  farmer  in 
the  Bangall  district  of  the  town. 

(II)  Joshua  Knapp,  son  of  Isaac 
Knapp,  was  born  in  Stamford,  Connecti- 
cut. He  was  a  farmer  and  a  constructor 
of  stone  fences.  About  fifty  years  ago  he 
built  the  stone  fence  surrounding  Wood- 
land Cemetery.  He  was  a  man  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community,  and  at  one  time 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  Mr. 
Knapp  married  Mary  Provost,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Provost,  and  sister  of  Henry  S. 
Provost,  who  is  represented  in  this  work 
by  a  biography  containing  the  Provost 
genealogy. 

(III)  Sylvester  Livingston  Knapp, 
son  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Provost) 
Knapp,  was  born  March  21,  1842,  in  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town. 
While  yet  a  youth  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  a  general  merchant 
in  that  part  of  the  town  known  as  Rox- 
bury.  For  about  ten  years  he  conducted 
a  successful  business,  at  the  same  time 
dealing  in  horses  and  carriages.  His  ex- 
perience in  this  line  of  business,  and  also 
that  gained  in  a  boyhood  spent  on  a  farm, 
led  him  in  the  course  of  time  to  abandon 
the  grocery  business  and  open  a  livery 
establishment.  It  need  hardly  be  said 
that  this  was  long  before  the  days  of 
automobiles  and  trolley  cars,  and  the  de- 
mand for  vehicles  to  cover  the  territory 
surrounding  Stamford  was  large.  Mr. 
Knapp  kept  from  forty  to  fifty  head  of 


horses,  and  continuously  employed  from 
ten  to  fifteen  men.  As  a  natural  adjunct 
he  also  conducted  a  boarding  and  training 
stable  and  continued  to  deal  in  horses  and 
carriages.  His  business  was  carried  on 
in  partnership  with  Norman  Provost  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Knapp  &  Provost 
for  the  long  period  of  thirty-four  years, 
seven  months  and  twelve  days,  when  the 
partnership  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  Provost.  The  business  was  then 
closed. 

On  October  15,  1896,  Mr.  Knapp,  with 
two  or  three  friends,  purchased  what  was 
known  as  the  Gay  property,  the  sale  be- 
ing made  by  General  W.  W.  Skiddy. 
This  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  in  build- 
ing lots,  a  street  being  cut  through  from 
Main  street  to  Forest  street  and  named 
by  Mr.  Knapp  Suburban  avenue.  The 
street  was  paved,  sdewalks  and  curbing 
laid,  and  trees  planted.  The  house  oc- 
cupied by  the  Suburban  Club  now  stands 
on  a  part  of  this  property,  and  almost 
the  entire  plot  is  built  over,  making  a 
fine,  quiet,  residential  district,  within  five 
minutes'  walk  of  the  town  hall.  Through- 
out this  transaction  Mr.  Knapp  showed 
himself  to  be  a  man  of  vision,  capable  of 
foreseeing  the  results  of  what  he  was  do- 
ing. He  was  fully  aware  that  the  prop- 
erty would  develop  both  in  value  and 
desirability,  and  he  built  and  sold  many 
of  the  residences  on  the  land.  Every 
promise  and  prediction  that  he  made  to 
purchasers  has  been  more  than  fulfilled. 

On  September  10,  1919,  Mr.  Knapp  was 
elected  president  of  the  Grocers'  Cost  and 
Profit  Guide  Company,  of  which  he  had 
been  one  of  the  organizers.  This  com- 
pany publishes  a  book  of  tables  showing 
at  a  glance  just  what  price  a  merchant 
must  charge  for  any  unit  of  measurement 
of  merchandise  to  make  any  desired  per- 
centage of  profit  on  the  selling  price  and 
not  on  the  cost.    The  record  of  Mr.  Knapp 


[65 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


speaks  for  itself,  showing  him  to  be  be- 
yond all  question  one  of  Stamford's  "men 
of  mark,"  and  in  his  portrait  we  see  that 
he  looks  the  man  he  is. 

The  name  of  Sylvester  Livingston 
Knapp  will  always  be  remembered  in 
Stamford,  for  it  is  "writ  large"  on  one  of 
the  most  attractive  portions  of  that  beau- 
tiful city. 


KNAPP,  John  H., 

Banker,   Honored    Citizen. 

In  the  very  early  days  a  hilltop  or 
knoll  was  called  a  knapp,  and  it  is  from 
this  that  the  surname  of  Knapp  has  been 
derived.  It  was  first  assumed  by  one 
who  lived  near  such  a  hill,  and  after  the 
thirteenth  century  came  into  general  use 
as  a  surname.  The  Knapp  family  has  for 
many  generations  been  prominent  in  the 
annals  of  Connecticut,  particularly  in  the 
affairs  of  Fairfield  county.  The  first  set- 
tler of  this  branch  of  the  family  in  Fair- 
field county  was  among  the  leading  men 
of  that  county,  and  since  that  time  each 
generation  has  added  its  quota  of  promi- 
nent and  leading  citizens.  They  have 
been  men  who  have  been  at  the  head  of 
the  industries  and  the  professions,  as  well 
as  foremost  in  the  public  and  civic  life 
of  the  communities. 

(I)  Nathan  Knapp,  grandfather  of  John 
H.  Knapp,  took  part  in  the  Revolution. 
The  Christian  name  of  his  wife  was  Sarah, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  John,  of 
whom  further. 

(II)  John  Knapp,  son  of  Nathan  and 
Sarah  Knapp,  learned  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker, and  at  an  early  age  was  engaged 
in  business  on  his  own  account.  He  was 
interested  in  all  public  matters,  and  for 
a  time  served  as  captain  of  a  militia  com- 
pany. Mr.  Knapp  married  Betsey  Hoyt, 
who  was  born  in  Norwalk,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas    Hoyt,    and    a    descendant    of   a 


prominent  Norwalk  family.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Charles,  Anson,  Mary  (Mrs. 
Sands  Reed);  John  H.,  of  further  men- 
tion ;  and  Burr.  All  of  the  children  are 
now  deceased  except  John  H.  Knapp. 

(Ill)  John  H.  Knapp,  son  of  John  and 
Betsey  (Hoyt)  Knapp,  was  born  in  South 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  November  15, 
1825.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  learned  the  trade  of  hatter, 
which  he  followed  for  a  few  years.  Re- 
signing from  his  occupation,  Mr.  Knapp 
engaged  in  business  as  a  "Yankee  ped- 
dler," a  kind  of  itinerant  merchant  now 
rarely  seen.  He  drove  two  horses  at- 
tached to  a  red  wagon,  carrying  in  the 
latter  all  sorts  of  tin  kitchen  utensils, 
brooms,  etc.  In  those  days  when  trans- 
portation facilities  were  meager,  the  visit 
of  the  "Yankee  peddler"  was  most  wel- 
come in  the  rural  districts.  He  brought 
news  of  the  outside  world,  as  well  as 
needed  merchandise,  and  as  money  was 
not  plentiful,  he  often  bartered  his  goods 
for  farm  produce.  The  territory  covered 
by  Mr.  Knapp  was  Long  Island  and  up 
the  Hudson  river  towns  as  far  as  Albany, 
as  well  as  the  towns  in  Southwestern 
Connecticut.  After  about  three  years  of 
this  employment,  Mr.  Knapp  became  a 
clerk  in  New  York  City,  and  in  i860,  in 
partnership  with  Edwin  Ward,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Ward  &  Knapp,  he  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  toy  business  on  Williams 
street,  New  York  City.  They  also  car- 
ried on  a  retail  trade  and  were  very  suc- 
cessful. Baby  carriages  became  the  most 
important  branch  of  their  business.  In 
1875  Mr.  Knapp  sold  his  interest,  having 
removed  to  South  Norwalk  some  years 
previous.  After  the  latter  year  Mr. 
Knapp  made  his  home  in  South  Norwalk, 
and  as  vice-president  of  the  South  Nor- 
walk Savings  Bank,  his  business  interests 
were  there  also.  He  has  held  the  office 
since  its  incorporation  up  to  the  present 


166 


* 


pro  vy 


cmAAJ  (jij 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


time  (1921),  and  for  years  was  also  vice- 
president  of  the  City  National  Bank  of 
Norwalk.  For  thirty  years  Mr.  Knapp 
was  an  appraiser  of  the  bank's  properties. 

In  the  old  training  days,  Mr.  Knapp 
was  a  member  of  Mohegan  Company  of 
Militia,  holding  the  rank  of  corporal.  The 
home  in  which  Mr.  Knapp  resides  on  the 
top  of  Flax  Hill,  was  built  on  the  site  on 
which  stood  the  house  in  which  he  was 
born,  and  the  latter  house  was  removed 
to  a  adjoining  lot  by  Mr.  Knapp,  where 
it  is  now  occupied  and  is  in  a  splendid 
state  of  preservation. 

There  is  no  citizen  in  South  Norwalk 
more  highly  esteemed  than  Mr.  Knapp. 
His  fine  character  and  sunny  disposition 
have  won  him  a  host  of  friends.  It  is 
given  to  very  few  men  to  live  to  the  age 
of  ninety-four  years,  Mr.  Knapp's  age, 
and  to  a  much  smaller  number  to  enjoy 
all  their  faculties  in  such  strength  that 
they  are  able  to  take  a  keen  pleasure  in 
following  current  events  and  to  transact 
business  with  the  sound  judgment  and 
shrewdness  of  successful  men  in  the  prime 
of  life.  Mr.  Knapp's  hearing  has  failed 
somewhat  and  his  eyesight  is  not  so  good 
as  formerly,  but  there  are  many  men  of 
sixty  years  who  are  worse  handicapped 
in  these  respects.  His  handwriting  is 
exceptionally  legible  and  written  with 
scarcely  a  tremor  of  the  hand. 

Mr.  Knapp  married  (first)  Catherine 
Rebecca  Whitlock,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Cornelia  (Kazien)  Whitlock,  and 
there  were  two  children  by  this  marriage : 
Cornelia,  who  died  in  infancy ;  and 
Charles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years.  In  1880  Mr.  Knapp  married 
(second)  Julia  Grumman,  daughter  of 
Josiah  and  Mary  Grumman,  of  Litchfield ; 
before  her  marriage  Mrs.  Knapp  was  a 
school  teacher  and  is  a  splendidly  edu- 
cated woman  of  the  intellectual  type. 


KNAPP,  Alfred  B., 

Business  Man. 

Alfred  B.  Knapp  was  born  in  Pound- 
ridge,  New  York,  June  20,  1854,  son  of 
Orin  and  Ann  Augusta  (Quick)  Knapp 
(see  Quick  III).  Orin  Knapp  was  a 
farmer  of  Poundridge.  Alfred  B.  Knapp 
attended  the  local  public  schools,  assisted 
his  father  on  the  home  farm,  and  on  reach- 
ing manhood  engaged  in  the  milk  busi- 
ness independently  in  Springdale,  Con- 
necticut. Several  years  later  the  entire 
family  moved  to  that  place  from  Pound- 
ridge. In  Springdale  the  milk  business 
was  in  its  infancy,  and  Mr.  Knapp  was 
entitled  to  the  distinction  of  having  been 
one  of  its  pioneers,  having  previous  to  his 
marriage  built  up  an  extensive  route.  He 
carried  on  the  business  for  a  number  of 
years  later  and  then  sold  out  in  order  that 
he  might  be  free  to  open  a  grocery  store 
under  the  name  of  Knapp  &  Miller,  Jere- 
miah Miller  being  the  other  member  of 
the  firm.  After  conducting  it  for  a  con- 
siderable period,  he  established  the 
Springdale  Ice  Company,  the  first  con- 
cern to  manufacture  artificial  ice  in 
Springdale.  Beginning  with  a  five-ton 
plant  he  built  up  a  large  business  before 
he  retired.  The  plant  now  manufactures 
twenty-two  tons  a  day,  a  fact  which 
evinces  a  remarkable  growth,  the  business 
being  only  about  six  years  old.  Some  two 
years  ago  Mr.  Knapp  established  a  coal 
and  wood  business  as  an  adjunct,  being 
the  Springdale  representative  of  the  firm 
of  Graves  &  Strong,  of  Stamford.  Since 
his  death  the  combined  concern  has  been 
incorporated  as  the  Springdale  Ice  and 
Coal  Company.  They  find  a  market  for 
their  merchandise  in  all  the  suburbs  of 
Stamford.  Mr.  Knapp's  business  activity 
extended  into  numerous  fields.  He  oper- 
ated a  cider  mill,  owned  a  threshing 
machine,   widely   used   in   the   neighbor- 


167 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


hood,  and  also  engaged  in  contracting  and 
teaming.  He  acquired  extensive  real  es- 
tate holdings,  built  and  sold  a  number  of 
houses,  and  devoted  considerable  of  his 
time  to  the  management  of  his  property 
interests.  In  politics  Mr.  Knapp  was  a 
Democrat,  but  never  engaged  actively  in 
public  affairs,  preferring  to  do  his  duty 
as  a  private  citizen.  He  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Knapp  married,  April  20,  1882,  El- 
len Louise  Miller,  daughter  of  Lewis  B. 
and  Mary  Louise  (Bell)  Miller.  The 
Benedicts  are  an  old  English  family,  trac- 
ing from  William  Benedict,  who  was  of 
Nottinghamshire,  in  1500,  and  whose  lin- 
eal descendant,  Thomas  Benedict,  was  in 
Massachusetts  in  1638,  and  later  removed 
to  Long  Island.  Mrs.  Miller  was  the 
daughter  of  Harmon  Bell.  The  different 
branches  of  the  Bell  family  emigrated 
from  Northern  England,  Scotland,  and 
the  North  of  Ireland,  settling  in  a  num- 
ber of  the  American  colonies.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Knapp  were  the  parents  of  one  son, 
Gilford  Benedict,  a  sketch  of  whom  fol- 
lows. Mrs.  Knapp,  Sr.,  is  a  member  of 
Immanuel   Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

On  February  14,  1919,  Mr.  Knapp's  use- 
ful and  well  spent  life  was  closed,  leaving 
many  to  mourn  his  loss,  for  he  was  loved 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  respected 
by  the  entire  community.  The  narrative 
of  his  career  should  be  preserved,  for 
it  teaches  a  lesson  of  sturdy  self-reli- 
ance, aggressive  industry,  and  honestly 
achieved  success. 

(The  Quick  Line). 

(I)  John  Quick  was  a  farmer  of  North 
Salem,  New  York,  where  he  died.  His 
wife  was  a  Miss  Tyler,  and  died  at  the 
venerable  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

(II)  Elijah  Quick,  son  of  John  Quick, 
was  born  in  North  Salem,  New  York.  He 
followed  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Van  Scoy  (see  Van  Scoy  II), 


and  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of 
forty-four  years,  his  death  being  caused 
by  typhoid  fever.  He  passed  away  at 
North  Salem  in  1847  or  J848,  and  the 
death  of  his  widow  occurred  in  January, 
1 85 1.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
fowing  children,  all  of  whom  were  born 
in  North  Salem  :  Ann  Augusta,  mentioned 
below;  Lucinda,  died  in  infancy;  Oliver, 
died  in  Purdy  Station,  New  York ;  Mary 
Jeannette,  died  in  Poundridge,  New 
York ;  Eliza,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen ; 
Nancy,  died  July  16,  191 1,  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut ;  Andrew,  died  in  Harpers 
Ferry,  during  the  Civil  War;  Jane;  Wil- 
liam Henry,  died  in  Danbury,  Connecti- 
cut; and  Cyrus,  also  died  in  Danbury, 
about  1862. 

(Ill)  Ann  Augusta  Quick,  daughter  of 
Elijah  and  Sarah  (Van  Scoy)  Quick,  was 
born  May  7,  1836.  She  became  the  wife 
of  Orin  Knapp,  as  stated  above.  Mrs. 
Knapp  died  December  31,  1899. 

(The  Van  Scoy  Line). 

(I)  Abraham  Van  Scoy  was  born  Janu- 
ary 7,  1760,  in  Dutchess  county,  New 
York,  and  lived  as  a  farmer  in  North 
Salem,  New  York.  He  married  Hannah 
Bostwick,  who  was  born  September  21, 
1778,  in  Bedford,  New  York.  Mr.  Van 
Scoy  died  September  1,  1844,  and  the 
death  of  his  widow  occurred  March  30, 
1851. 

(II)  Sarah  Van  Scoy,  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Hannah  (Bostwick)  Van 
Scoy,  was  born  January  22,  1807,  and  be- 
came the  wife  of  Elijah  Quick  (see 
Quick  II). 


KNAPP,  Gilford  B., 

Business  Man. 

Mr.  Knapp's  early  business  life  was 
spent  in  connection  with  brokerage  firms 
of  New  York  City's  financial  district,  but 
since  1913  he  has  been  associated  with  the 


[68 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


organization  founded  by  his  father,  the 
Springdale  Ice  and  Coal  Company.  He 
is  well  and  favorably  known  in  the  local- 
ity in  which  his  business  interests  are 
centered,  and  is  identified  with  several 
organizations,  social  and  fraternal. 

Gilford  B.  Knapp,  son  of  Alfred  B.  and 
Ellen  Louise  (Miller)  Knapp  (q.  v.),  was 
born  in  Springdale,  Connecticut,  Decem- 
ber ii,  1883.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  and  Bell's  Academy,  of  Stamford, 
and  completed  his  studes  at  Merrill's 
Business  College,  of  Stamford.  His  first 
business  experience  was  in  the  employ  of 
James  D.  Smith  &  Company,  with  which 
firm  he  remained  six  years,  and  he  was 
subsequently  for  a  like  length  of  time 
with  Ferris  &  White,  both  brokerage 
houses  of  New  York  City.  During  this 
period  he  continued  to  reside  in  Spring- 
dale,  and  in  1913  he  left  New  York  and 
became  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
management  of  the  Springdale  Ice  Com- 
pany. This  concern  afterward  became 
the  Springdale  Ice  and  Coal  Company, 
and  upon  the  death  of  the  elder  Knapp  in 
1919,  Gilford  B.  Knapp  succeeded  to  the 
presidency,  a  position  he  now  fills.  In 
November,  1919,  the  company  extended 
its  field  of  operation  by  the  purchase 
of  the  ice  business  of  Mr.  Brown,  of 
New  Canaan,  and  is  now  supplying  that 
town  with  ice.  Mr.  Knapp's  qualifica- 
tions for  the  direction  of  his  prosperous 
business  are  those  of  thorough  experience 
in  his  particular  line  and  a  natural  apti- 
tude for  affairs  of  business  inherited  from 
his  honored  father. 

Mr.  Knapp  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Springdale  Fire  Company,  of  which  Al- 
fred B.  Knapp  was  also  a  charter  mem- 
ber and  organizer.  His  fraternal  affilia- 
tion is  with  the  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics.  He  is  an  inde- 
pendent Democrat  in  political  action,  the 


need  of  the  office  and  the  desirability  of 
the  candidate  determining  his  vote.  He 
is  an  attendant  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


FERGUSON  FAMILY, 

Ancestral  History. 

Since  1842,  in  which  year  John  Fer- 
guson settled  in  Stamford,  the  family  has 
been  a  prominent  one  in  Fairfield  county. 
The  members  of  the  present  generation 
have  brought  distinction  to  the  family 
name  throughout  the  State  :  The  late  John 
Day  Ferguson,  by  giving  largely  of  his 
time  to  public  service ;  Walter  Ferguson, 
as  a  banker  and  business  man  of  affairs ; 
the  late  Professor  Henry  Ferguson  of 
Trinity  College,  Hartford,  as  an  educator, 
and  later  a  rector  of  St.  Paul's  School 
of  Concord,  New  Hampshire.  In  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  the  Ferguson  Library, 
endowed  by  John  Day  Ferguson,  will  re- 
main a  silent  testimony  to  the  memory  of 
this  good  man  for  many  generations  to 
come. 

The  members  of  the  Ferguson  family 
have  been  public-spirited  men,  men  of 
cultured  minds,  and  possessed  of  many 
other  qualities  which  have  made  their 
careers  worthy  of  emulation. 

The  family  was  founded  in  America  by 
Samuel  Ferguson,  who  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax, County  of  Yorkshire,  England,  April 
ii,  1769,  and  died  in  New  York  City,  Au- 
gust 16,  1816.  He  married  Elizabeth  Day, 
a  native  of  St.  Johns  Ilketshall,  near  Bun- 
gay, County  of  Suffolk ;  she  was  born 
July  4,  1778,  and  died  in  New  York  City, 
October  6,  1823. 

When  a  young  man,  Samuel  Ferguson 
crossed  the  ocean  to  Philadelphia,  and  re- 
mained there  three  or  four  years  associ- 
ated with  a  cousin,  Robert  E.  Griffith, 
who  had  preceded  him  to  America  and 
who  had  already  established  himself  in 
business  there  as  a  merchant.     That  was 


169 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


in  the  days  of  flourishing  trade  with  the 
Orient,  and  young  Ferguson  went  to 
China  for  his  cousin  as  supercargo  on  one 
of  his  vessels.  Many  of  the  early  import- 
ing merchants  secured  an  important  part 
of  their  business  training  in  that  way. 
Later,  Mr.  Ferguson  went  to  New  York 
City  and  engaged  in  business  with  his 
brother-in-law,  John  Day,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  his  death  in  1816. 

John  Ferguson,  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Day)  Ferguson,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  April  23,  1803,  and  died  in 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  September  1, 
1874.  He  attended  McCullough's  cele- 
brated private  school  at  Morristown,  New 
Jersey.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father,  he 
was  sent  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Edward 
Ferguson,  a  prominent  woolen  merchant 
of  Yorkshire,  England.  When  he  became 
of  age,  he  returned  to  America,  and  took 
the  place  in  the  firm  of  Ogden,  Ferguson 
&  Day,  vacated  by  the  death  of  his  father. 
John  Ferguson  continued  active  in  the 
business  until  his  death.  Owing  to  the 
death  of  various  partners,  changes  were 
made  from  time  to  time  in  the  style  of  the 
firm  name.  For  some  years  prior  to 
1874,  it  had  been  J.  &  S.  Ferguson.  While 
a  resident  of  New  York  City,  Mr.  Fer- 
guson was  a  member  of  Grace  Episcopal 
Church  and  served  as  clerk  of  its  vestry. 
In  1842  he  became  a  resident  of  Stamford, 
and  from  that  time  was  identified  with 
St.  John's  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he 
was  warden  for  many  years.  He  married 
Helen  Grace,  born  in  New  York  City, 
February  22,  1807,  died  in  Stamford,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1853,  a  daughter  of  Edmund 
and  Sarah  Eliza  (Walton)  Morewood. 
Edmund  Morewood  was  born  in  Salford, 
England,  May  11,  1770,  and  died  in  Stam- 
ford, September  17,  1861.  His  wife  was 
born  in  New  York  City  in  1780,  and  died 
there  August  18,  1838.  John  and  Helen 
Grace  (Morewood)  Ferguson  had  eight 
children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased,  ex- 


cept Walton  and  Elizabeth  Day.  They 
were:  I.  John  Day,  a  sketch  of  whom 
follows:  2.  Sarah  M..  3.  Samuel,  died 
from  the  effects  of  exposure  in  a  ship- 
wreck. He  was  associated  with  his  father 
in  business  in  New  York  as  long  as  he 
lived.  4.  Helen.  5.  Edmund  Morewood, 
who  was  in  business  in  Pittsburgh  as  an 
iron  and  coal  merchant.  In  his  later  years 
he  was  president  of  the  Merchants'  & 
Manufacturers'  Bank  of  Pittsburgh ;  he 
married  Josephine  E.  Mackintosh,  and 
left  four  children,  two  sons  now  deceased, 
and  two  daughters.  6.  Walton,  a  sketch 
of  whom  follows.  7.  Henry,  a  prominent 
educator  of  Hartford.     8.  Elizabeth  Day. 


FERGUSON,  John  Day, 

Public    Benefactor. 

One  of  the  most  beloved  citizens  of 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  John  Day  Fer- 
guson, was  born  in  New  York  City,  Au- 
gust 7,  1833,  and  died  December  9,  1877, 
leaving  the  priceless  legacy  of  a  good 
name  which  will  ever  endure.  Mr.  Fer- 
guson was  a  son  of  John  and  Helen  Grace 
(Morewood)  Ferguson,  and  a  man  of 
great  foresight  and  generous  nature.  He 
had  the  rare  faculty  of  inspiring  both  af- 
fection and  respect  in  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  Possessed  of  sufficient 
means  to  enable  him  to  choose  the  activi- 
ties that  appealed  to  him,  Mr.  Ferguson 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  furthering 
the  interests  of  education.  He  felt  it  his 
duty  to  aid  in  giving  to  society  the  high, 
unselfish  disinterested,  intelligent  service 
that  would  promote  the  best  interests  of 
the  community.  His  work  as  member  of 
the  School  Board  did  much  toward  estab- 
lishing the  Stamford  Public  School  sys- 
tem on  a  sound  pedagogical  basis.  For 
many  years  he  was  connected  with  the 
School  Board,  and  it  was  universally  rec- 
ognized among  his  fellow-citizens  that  he 
was  the  efficient  member  of  the  board. 


170 


e/flcx-y,  £/&?. actjlstn^s. 


A/e-a^z. 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


John  Day  Ferguson  was  educated  in 
the  private  school  of  Rev.  Robert  Harris, 
at  White  Plains,  New  York,  and  was 
graduated  at  Trinity  College,  Hartford, 
in  1851.  He  then  studied  law,  and  for 
ten  years  was  engaged  in  practice  in  New 
York  City.  In  1866  and  1867  Mr.  Fer- 
guson served  as  representative  from 
Stamford  in  the  Legislature,  and  from 
1871  to  1874  he  served  as  Judge  of  Pro- 
bate. 

Mr.  Ferguson  always  considered  a 
public  library  a  necessary  adjunct  of  the 
formal  educational  facilities  of  the  town 
and  he  left  in  his  will  money  which,  in 
March,  1881,  went  to  found  the  Ferguson 
Library  of  Stamford,  which  was  opened 
to  the  public  in  January  of  the  following 
year.  The  location  has  since  been 
changed,  being  now  located  on  Broad 
street  at  the  head  of  Atlantic  street,  and 
the  new  building  was  opened  September 
4,  191 1.  It  is  probably  safe  to  say  that  no 
library  building  of  its  size  in  this  country 
is  more  attractive,  better  lighted,  or  has 
superior  appointments. 

A  fitting  close  to  the  biography  of  this 
worthy  man  is  the  following,  quoted  from 
"Picturesque  Stamford :" 

He  had  for  many  years  been  identified  with  the 
cause  of  popular  education  in  Stamford  and  had 
made  the  interests  of  our  school  system  a  special 
study  and  brought  to  their  promotion  an  enthusi- 
asm which  no  discouragement  could  dampen.  His 
sagacious  judgment  led  him  always  to  make  the 
best  use  of  attainable  means  while  hopefully  striv- 
ing for  better.  His  suavity  of  manner,  his  obvious 
sincerity,  and  the  confidence  imposed  in  his  integ- 
rity always  enabled  him  to  secure  an  attentive 
hearing  in  the  town  meetings  and  to  exert  a  large 
influence  with  the  voters  on  behalf  of  the  plans  for 
school  improvements,  to  which  he  devoted  so  much 
of  his  time  and  energy. 


FERGUSON,  Walton, 

Leader  in  Community  Affairs. 

There  are  many  citizens  in  Connecticut 
of  which  the  State  has  reason  to  be  proud, 


and  one  of  these  is  Walton  Ferguson, 
scion  of  a  distinguished  family,  and  pres- 
ident of  The  Stamford  Trust  Company. 
Mr.  Ferguson  was  born  in  Stamford, 
July  6,  1842,  and  was  educated  at  a  pri- 
vate school  in  Baltimore,  and  at  Trinity 
College.  While  at  college  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Psi  Upsilon  fraternity.  Subse- 
quent to  his  college  training  Mr.  Fer- 
guson became  associated  with  his  father 
in  business,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  J.  &  S.  Ferguson,  a  private  bank- 
ing business.  Many  business  and  finan- 
cial interests  have  held  his  attention  at 
various  times.  For  several  years  he  was 
in  Pittsburgh  associated  with  H.  C.  Frick, 
in  the  coke  business,  and  later,  was  inter- 
ested in  railroad,  gas  and  electric  com- 
panies. Mr.  Ferguson  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  The  Kings  County  Electric 
Light  and  Power  Company,  which  ab- 
sorbed the  Brooklyn  Edison  Company. 
He  was  active  in  establishing  The  Union 
Carbide  Company,  of  which  he  was  a 
director,  and  was  a  director  of  The  Peo- 
ple's Gas  Company  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Fer- 
guson is  now  a  director  of  The  Virginia 
Iron,  Coal  and  Coke  Company,  the  Vir- 
ginia &  Southwestern  Railroad,  and  the 
Detroit  &  Mackinaw  Railroad. 

Mr.  Ferguson  was  organizer  of  The 
Stamford  Trust  Company,  of  which  he 
is  now  the  president ;  he  is  a  director  of 
The  First-Stamford  National  Bank,  and 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The 
Stamford  Gas  and  Electric  Company. 

Mr.  Ferguson's  clubs  are :  Union 
League  ;  Union  ;  St.  Nicholas  Society,  and 
other  prominent  clubs.  He  has  always 
been  greatly  interested  in  St.  John's  Epis- 
copal Church,  which  he  long  served  as 
vestryman,  and  of  which  he  is  senior  war- 
den. He  married  Julia  L.,  daughter  of 
John  White,  of  New  York  City,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  now  living.  They  are:  1. 
Walton,  Jr.,  born  November  28,  1870.    He 


171 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


attended  St.  Paul's  School  at  Concord, 
New  Hampshire,  and  Trinity  College,  and 
until  recently  was  in  the  lumber  business. 
Walter  Ferguson,  Jr.,  married  (first) 
Emily  Carstairs,  by  whom  he  had  one 
daughter,  Frances,  born  February  12, 
1900.  He  married  (second)  Dorothy 
Taylor  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons:  Walton,  3rd,  born  April  1,  1914, 
and  Matthew  H.  T.  2.  Helen  G.,  born 
July  23,  1872.  3.  Grace  Carroll,  born 
January  8,  1874,  married  Alfred  W.  Dater, 
a  sketch  of  whom  follows  in  this  work. 
4.  Alfred  L.,  born  March  7,  1879.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Pomfret  School, 
and  graduated  from  Yale  in  1902,  with  a 
B.  A.  degree.  He  was  a  member  of  Psi 
Upsilon  and  Skull  and  Bones,  and  after 
graduation  became  associated  with  J.  &  S. 
Ferguson.  His  chief  work  has  been  as 
treasurer  of  The  Windsor  Print  Works 
and  he  is  vice-president  of  The  Consoli- 
dated Textile  Corporation.  He  married 
Ruth  Howard  of  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
and  they  have  four  children :  Alfred  L., 
Jr.,  born  April  27,  1904;  Carroll,  born 
July  6,  1908;  Ruth  W.,  born  August  11, 
1913 ;  Charles  H.,  born  July  18,  1919.  5. 
Henry  Lee,  born  March  28,  1881 ;  was 
educated  at  Pomfret  School,  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  Sheffield  Scientific  School 
in  1905,  with  a  degree  of  Ph.  B.  He  is 
now  manager  of  the  Fisher's  Island 
Farms,  and  is  a  member  of  Delta  Psi  fra- 
ternity. He  married  Marion  Benner,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  two 
now  living:  Henry  Lee,  Jr.,  born  March 
14,  1915;  Charles  B.,  born  June  30,  1918. 
With  his  family  Mr.  Ferguson  resides  at 
Fisher's  Island. 


DATER,  Alfred  Warner, 

Man  of  Enterprise  and  Public-Spirit. 

Alfred  Warner  Dater,  president  of  the 
Stamford  Gas  and  Electric  Company,  and 


prominently  associated  with  many  im- 
portant business  and  industrial  concerns 
in  Southern  and  Eastern  Connecticut,  is 
one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  of 
Stamford,  in  this  State,  and  a  conspicuous 
figure  in  the  life  and  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Dater  is  a  native  of  Brook- 
lyn, New  York,  where  his  birth  occurred 
August  23,  1872,  and  a  son  of  J.  Henry 
and  Adda  H.  (McMurray)  Dater,  old 
and  highly  respected  residents  of  that 
city.  The  Dater  family  was  resident  in 
New  York  State  for  a  number  of  genera- 
tions, and  the  elder  Mr.  Dater  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Troy,  where  he  spent  his 
childhood  and  early  youth.  As  a  young 
man  he  was  engaged  in  several  different 
lines  of  business  and  while  yet  young 
entered  the  employ  of  the  firm  of  John 
G.  McMurray  &  Company,  brush  manu- 
facturers, of  Troy.  This  concern  was  one 
of  the  oldest  of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States,  having  been  founded  in  the  first 
half  of  the  nineteenth  century,  when  the 
industrial  development  of  the  Hudson 
Valley  region  was  yet  in  its  infancy.  In 
1859  a  new  factory  was  erected  to  take 
the  place  of  the  original  plant,  which  had 
been  destroyed  by  fire,  and  was  consid- 
ered at  that  time  to  be  the  largest  and 
most  perfectly  equipped  brush  factory  in 
the  world.  It  was  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  a  general  line  of  bristle  brushes 
and  for  many  years  maintained  an  office 
in  New  York  City.  Mr.  Dater  was  em- 
ployed by  this  concern  for  a  number  of 
years  and  was  finally  admitted  as  a  part- 
ner and  placed  in  charge  of  the  sales  end 
of  the  business,  having  come  to  Brooklyn 
to  make  his  home,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1875.  In  1855  he  married,  at 
Lansingburg,  New  York,  Adda  H.  Mc- 
Murray, a  daughter  of  John  G.  McMur- 
ray, his  old  employer,  who  had  recently 
taken  him  into  partnership.  Mr.  McMur- 
ray, a  native  of  New  York  City,  was  a 


172 


<2<f^  ft  2)2£g^r~^ 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


member  of  an  exceedingly  ancient  Scot- 
tish family,  the  name  belonging  to  that 
great  class  of  patronymics  that  have  taken 
their  origin  from  earlier  given  names,  the 
Celtic  prefix  "Mac"  or  "Mc"  signifying  in 
the  early  dialects  the  "son  of."  The  Mc- 
Murrays  have  for  many  generations  been 
associated  with  various  communities  in 
both  the  old  and  new  worlds  and  its 
members  have  always  maintained  a  high 
place  in  the  regard  of  their  fellow-citizens 
wherever  they  have  resided.  J.  Henry 
Dater  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity, as  follows :  Mary,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Gardner  S.  Lamson,  of  Boston, 
Massachusetts ;  John  G.,  who  resides  in 
New  York  City ;  William  Roberts,  who 
died  in  the  year  1893,  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-five ;  Henry  Murray ;  and  Alfred  War- 
ner, with  whose  career  we  are  here 
especially  concerned.  J.  Henry  Dater 
was  a  son  of  Jacob  Dater,  a  native  of 
Troy,  New  York,  where  he  was  born 
about  1791,  and  married  Mary  Roberts. 
During  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Brook- 
lyn he  was  prominent  in  social  and  re- 
ligious life  and  was  a  vestryman  of  the 
Church  of  the  Messiah  there. 

Alfred  Warner  Dater  passed  his  child- 
hood in  his  native  city  of  Brooklyn,  and 
received  his  elementary  education  at  the 
Brooklyn  Polytechnic  Institute.  Later, 
he  attended  the  Dwight  School  in  New 
York  City  for  a  year,  where  he  completed 
his  preparation  for  college.  He  then 
matriculated  at  the  Sheffield  Scientific 
School  at  Yale  University,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  with  the  class 
of  1895,  taking  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  After 
graduation  from  the  Sheffield  School,  Mr. 
Dater  entered  the  shops  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company,  at  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  as  a  machinist's  apprentice,  for 
a   special    practical    course   for   technical 


school  grades.  He  remained  at  Fort 
Wayne  until  1897,  and  then  came  to 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  to  accept  a  position 
as  assistant  general  superintendent  of  the 
Kings  County  Electric  Light  and  Power 
Company.  Upon  the  consolidation  of 
that  company  with  the  Edison  Electric 
Illuminating  Company,  Mr.  Dater  was 
appointed  treasurer  of  the  latter  concern, 
and  held  that  responsible  post  until  1902. 
It  was  in  that  year  that  Mr.  Dater  moved 
to  Stamford  and  became  connected  with 
several  Stamford  companies,  among 
which  was  the  Stamford  Gas  and  Electric 
Company.  Upon  the  death  of  its  treas- 
urer, George  H.  Hoyt,  Mr.  Dater  suc- 
ceeded him  in  that  office,  and  in  1917  was 
elected  president  of  the  company,  an  of- 
fice that  he  holds  today.  In  1909  Mr. 
Dater  removed  to  Williamstown,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  there  made  his  home,  be- 
coming associated  with  the  Windsor 
Print  Works  of  North  Adams,  but  two 
years  later  came  to  Stamford,  where  he 
has  since  lived.  In  Stamford  he  was 
elected  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Stamford  Gas  and  Electric 
Company,  and  later,  in  1917,  became  its 
president.  In  addition  to  this  office  that 
he  still  holds,  Mr.  Dater  at  the  present 
time  is  a  director  of  The  Stamford  Sav- 
ings Bank,  the  Stamford  Water  Company, 
the  Windsor  Print  Works,  the  Nazareth 
Cement  Company,  of  Nazareth,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  of  other  concerns.  He  is  also 
treasurer  of  the  Stamford  Children's 
Home,  and  is  prominent  in  charitable  un- 
dertakings of  many  kinds.  He  is  a  well 
known  figure  in  social  and  club  circles 
at  Stamford.  He  is  a  member  of  Delta 
Psi  fraternity,  which  he  joined  while  a 
student  at  Yale  University ;  the  Gradu- 
ates' Club  of  New  Haven,  Suburban  Club 
and  Woodway  Country  Club  of  Stamford, 
and  the  Yale  Club  and  St.  Anthony  Club 


173 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  New  York  City.  He  is  at  present 
serving  a  second  term  as  member  of  the 
Stamford  School  Board;  is  president  of 
the  local  council  of  the  Boy  Scouts  of 
America,  and  a  member  of  the  National 
Executive  Committee  of  that  order.  Dur- 
ing the  participation  of  the  United  States 
in  the  great  World  War,  Mr.  Dater 
served  as  chairman  of  the  local  Fuel  Ad- 
ministration and  in  this  capacity  per- 
formed an  invaluable  service  for  his  fel- 
low-townsman.. In  his  religious  belief 
Mr.  Dater  is  an  Episcopalian,  and  is  a 
member  and  vestryman  of  St.  John's 
Church  of  that  denomination  at  Stam- 
ford. 

Alfred  Warner  Dater  was  united  in 
marriage,  November  23,  1898,  with  Grace 
Carroll  Ferguson,  a  daughter  of  Walton 
and  Julia  L.  (White)  Ferguson,  old  and 
highly  respected  residents  of  Stamford, 
a  sketch  of  the  former  appearing  on  pre- 
ceding pages  of  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dater  are  the  parents  of  three  children 
as  follows:  Walton  Ferguson,  born  Sep- 
tember 10,  1899;  Alfred  W.,  Jr.,  born  May 
8,    1902;  and   Philip,  born   November   2, 

I905- 

Combined  with  splendid  technical  and 
mechanical  training,  Mr.  Dater  possesses 
an  unusually  natural  aptitude  for  business 
and  an  executive  ability  that  enables  him 
to  dispatch  easily  and  quickly  an  im- 
mense volume  of  work.  He  is  the  type 
of  business  man,  none  too  common,  who 
takes  pains  always  to  be  gracious  and 
helpful  to  people  who  come  in  contact 
with  him,  who  are  immediately  put  at 
ease  by  his  genial  manner.  Holding 
steadfast  the  highest  ideals  of  business 
and  personal  conduct,  with  good  humor 
well  nigh  inexhaustible,  he  has  the  con- 
fidence of  those  who  are  called  upon  to 
transact  business  with  him,  and  the 
friendship  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him. 


HURLBUTT,  Ambrose  Spencer, 

Man  of  Great  Enterprise. 

The  name  of  Hurlbutt,  which  is  an- 
other form  of  Hurlbatt,  is  a  very  ancient 
one,  presumably  of  Saxon  origin.  It  is 
derived  from  an  implement  of  battle,  the 
whirl-bat,  and  thus  it  is  proved  that 
the  family  are  descended  from  some  early 
warrior.  The  spelling  of  the  name  has 
varied  greatly.  It  has  been  written  Hurl- 
bert,  Hurlburt,  Hulburt,  Hulburd,  Hurl- 
burg,  Holliburt,  Hollybut,  Holybut, 
Holybud. 

(I)  Among  those  pioneers  of  courage 
and  energy  was  Thomas  Hurlbut  (as  he 
and  some  generations  of  his  descendants 
spelled  the  name),  early  settled  in  the 
New  England  Colony.  He  was  born  in 
1610,  and  died  after  1681.  On  August  II, 
1635,  he  left  London,  England,  in  the  ship 
"Bachelor,"  and  was  among  those  who 
settled  in  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  and 
while  there  he  was  a  member  of  a  party 
of  eleven  men  sent  out  February  22,  1637, 
to  burn  leaves,  weeds  and  reeds  upon  the 
neck  of  land  half  a  mile  from  the  fort, 
and  while  engaged  in  this  work  were 
attacked  by  Indians.  Thomas  Hurlbut 
was  shot  almost  through  the  thigh,  but 
escaped.  After  the  Pequot  War,  he  set- 
tled in  Wethersfield,  where  he  was  the 
first  blacksmith,  an  occupation  which  he 
had  followed  since  coming  to  New  Eng- 
land. For  his  services  in  the  Indian  wars, 
the  Assembly  voted  him  a  grant  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1671.  In  1640,  Thomas  Hurlbut 
served  as  clerk  of  the  train-band ;  was 
deputy  to  the  General  Court;  juryman; 
constable  in  1644;  collector  of  taxes  in 
1647.  The  Christian  name  of  his  wife  was 
Sarah. 

(II)  Thomas  (2)  Hurlbut,  son  of 
Thomas  (1)  and  Sarah  Hurlbut,  was 
probably  born  in  Wethersfield,  Connecti- 

74 


^£.  g.  /A^f^k7' 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


cut.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
from  his  father,  and  in  March,  1662,  was 
granted  land  by  the  town  on  which  to 
build  a  shop.  The  first  wife  of  Thomas 
Hurlbut  was  named  Lydia,  and  the  sec- 
ond wife  Elizabeth. 

(III)  Thomas  (3)  Hurlbut,  son  of 
Thomas  (2)  and  Lydia  Hurlbut,  was  born 
about  1660,  and  appears  to  have  settled 
in  Woodbury,  Connecticut,  previous  to 
1682.    The  name  of  his  wife  is  not  known. 

(IV)  Gideon  Hurlbutt,  son  of  Thomas 
(3)  Hurlbut,  was  baptized  in  August, 
1688,  and  died  March  9,  1757.  He  re- 
moved to  that  part  of  Westport  called 
Greens  Farms,  two  miles  east  of  the  vil- 
lage.    He  married  Margaret ,  and 

she  died  February  28,  1754. 

(V)  Gideon  (2)  Hurlbutt,  son  of 
Gjdeon  (1)  and  Margaret  Hurlbutt,  was 
born  in  Westport,  Connecticut,  baptized 
about  1728,  and  died  September  30,  1775. 
His  wife,  Hannah  (Taylor)  Hurlbutt, 
born  June  1,  1731,  died  in  1772,  daughter 
of  Captain  John  Taylor,  of  Westport,  and 
a  descendant  of  John  Taylor,  who  was 
early  in  Windsor. 

(VI)  James  Hurlbutt,  son  of  Gideon 
(2)  and  Hannah  (Taylor)  Hurlbutt,  was 
born  November  3,  1756,  in  Westport,  Con- 
necticut, and  died  in  Albany,  New  York, 
January  11,  1815.  He  was  long  engaged 
in  the  business  of  a  merchant  and  also 
was  a  builder  of  vessels.  Mr.  Hurlbutt 
was  among  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  Westport,  and  also  was  very  wealthy 
for  that  time.  For  his  second  wife,  he 
married,  March  18,  1781,  Ann  or  Nancy 
Hays,  born  October  22,  1761,  died  March 
25,  1819,  daughter  of  Isaac  Hays,  of  Lew- 
isboro,  New  York.  Previous  to  his  death 
Mr.  Hurlbutt  removed  to  Albany,  New 
York. 

(VII)  Isaac  Hurlbutt,  son  of  James 
and  Ann  or  Nancy  (Hays)  Hurlbutt,  was 
born  January   18,   1782,  and  died  March 


25,  1831,  in  Westport.  He  married  Free- 
love  Nash,  born  March  11,  1782,  died  July 
24,  1871. 

(VIII)  George  Nash  Hurlbutt,  son  of 
Isaac  and  Freelove  (Nash)  Hurlbutt,  was 
born  October  11,  1801.  He  married  Bet- 
sey Disbrow. 

(IX)  Ambrose  Spencer  Hurlbutt,  son 
of  George  Nash  and  Betsey  (Disbrow) 
Hurlbutt,  was  born  September  2,  1825, 
died  September  4,  1913.  Mr.  Hurlbutt 
was  like  his  ancestors  among  the  public- 
spirited  men  of  Westport.  He  was  a 
great  promoter  of  public  works,  and  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Central  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  Norwalk,  now  the  Central 
Trust  Company.  He  was  also  a  founder 
of  the  Willowbrook  Cemetery,  and  was 
president  of  the  association  from  its  or- 
ganization until  his  death.  He  was  one 
of  those  who  made  a  fortune  in  the  gold 
fields  of  California  in  1849.  With  a  part- 
ner, he  invested  in  timber  lands  in  that 
State,  the  property  including  a  large  part 
of  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. They  sold  their  holdings  and  he 
retired  East  in  1868,  a  millionaire.  Every 
matter  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the 
public  held  his  attention ;  he  was  the  first 
to  advocate  the  building  of  the  old  horse 
car  system  in  Westport,  and  later  was 
largely  instrumental  in  getting  the  trolley 
line  through  the  town.  He  served  as  the 
first  president  of  the  Street  Railway  Com- 
pany, and  was  also  president  of  the  Dan- 
bury  &  Norwalk  Railroad  Company.  At 
the  time  of  his  death,  Mr.  Hurlbutt  was 
a  director  of  the  Westport  Library  and 
had  been  active  in  the  work  of  this  li- 
brary for  many  years.  At  his  death  the 
town  of  Westport  lost  one  of  its  most 
useful  and  valued  citizens. 

Mr.  Hurlbutt  married,  in  November, 
i860,  Cornelia  Doughty  Kelsey,  daughter 
of  John  Burnett  and  Delia  (Conger) 
Kelsey. 


175 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurlbutt  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  I.  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Edward  B.  Mohler,  of  Baltimore, 
and  mother  of  Mary  H.  Mohler.  2.  Horace 
Carpenter,  married  Liela,  and  had  a  son, 
Horace  C. ;  the  latter  enlisted  and  served 
about  two  years  in  France,  and  after  his 
return  home  was  killed  in  an  automobile 
accident  in  1918.  3.  Frederick  Wood, 
married  Martha  M.  Boyd,  and  resides  in 
Atlantic  City.  4.  Ambrose  Spencer,  Jr., 
married  Maude  Mills,  of  Baltimore,  and 
died  in  1914,  leaving  no  children.  5.  Cor- 
nelia Kelsey,  married  Frank  C.  Coley,  of 
Xew  Haven ;  they  have  three  children : 
Ambrose  Hurlbutt,  James  Edward,  Cor- 
nelia Kelsey.  6.  Helen,  married  William 
Ridge  Allen,  and  resides  in  Richmond, 
Massachusetts. 

John  Burnett  Kelsey,  father  of  Cornelia 
D.  (Kelsey)  Hurlbutt,  was  born  in  Sparta, 
New  Jersey,  January  17,  1797,  died  Jan- 
uary 3,  1885.  He  was  a  son  of  Jabez  and 
Sarah  (Corwin)  Kelsey.  While  yet  in 
his  boyhood,  John  B.  Kelsey  went  to  live 
with  his  uncle  in  Flanders,  New  Jersey, 
and  remained  there  until  he  was  about 
eighteen  years  old.  Then  he  removed  to 
Randolph  to  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade. 
He  married,  April  7,  1821,  Delia  Conger, 
born  July  13,  1803,  and  died  September 
30,  1880,  daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
(Ayres)  Conger.  Previous  to  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Kelsey  removed  to  New  Or- 
leans, but  remained  there  only  a  year.  In 
the  fall  of  1824,  he  removed  with  his  wife 
to  East  Tennessee,  remaining  until  the 
spring  of  1826.  In  1859,  tney  yielded  to 
the  solicitations  of  their  five  children  in 
California  and  went  out  there.  Four 
years  later  they  returned  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives  in  Rockaway,  New 
Jersey.  Mr.  Kelsey  was  never  a  man  of 
great  physical  strength,  but  he  possessed 
a  constitution  of  great  vitality  and  re- 
cuperative power,  and  by  his  temperate 


habits  and  attention  to  the  laws  of  health 
he  lived  beyond  the  three  score  years  and 
ten  allotted  by  the  Psalmist,  dying  of  old 
age.     One  who  knew  him  well  said : 

The  life  just  closed  was  singularly  complete  in 
all  its  aspects.  In  his  simple  faith  and  humble 
walk  with  God,  in  his  domestic  happiness  and 
prosperity,  his  great  age  and  numerous  descend- 
ants, we  see  a  striking  resemblance  to  the  life  of 
the  Patriarchs,  as  they  are  depicted  in  the  Old 
Testament.  *  *  *  His  immediate  descendants 
(at  the  time  of  his  death)  are  fifteen  children, 
sixty-seven  grandchildren,  twenty  great-grandchil- 
dren, one  hundred  and  two  in  all.  His  piety  was 
of  the  Biblical  type — a  simple  earnest  faith,  al- 
ways held  in  meekness  and  sometimes  with  fear 
and  much  trembling. 

Mrs.  Delia  (Conger)  Kelsey  was  a 
woman  noted  for  her  good,  clear,  com- 
mon sense,  correct  judgment,  and  great 
decision  of  character.  She  was  a  woman 
of  indomitable  resolution,  of  tireless  en- 
ergy and  industry.  She  became  a  member 
of  the  Rockaway  church,  and  was  a  strong 
Christian. 


HURLBUTT,  Lewis  Raymond, 

Manufacturer. 

As  a  member  of  the  long-established 
and  widely  known  firm  of  Lounsbury, 
Mathewson  &  Company,  formerly  Louns- 
bury Brothers  &  Company,  Mr.  Hurlbutt 
has  long  occupied  a  leading  position  in  the 
business  world  of  South  Norwalk.  He  is 
also  allied  with  the  financial  interests  of 
his  city  and  is  a  figure  of  prominence  in 
her  fraternal  and  social  circles. 

(IV)  Thomas  (4)  Hurlbutt,  son  of 
Thomas  (3)  Hurlbut  (q.  v.),  was  bap- 
tized in  December,  1684,  in  Woodbury, 
Connecticut.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
lived  in  Wilton,  Connecticut,  where  he 
owned  land.  He  was  chosen,  with  others, 
by  Wilton  parish,  in  1735,  "to  lay  out  a 
highway  to  the  Ridge."  The  name  of  his 
wife  is  unknown. 


176 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(V)  Daniel  Hurlbutt,  son  of  Thomas 
(4)  Hurlbutt  was  born,  probably,  as  early 
as  1710,  in  Woodbury,  Connecticut,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  Wilton.  He  mar- 
ried   Belden. 

(VI)  Daniel  (2)  Hurlbutt,  son  of  Dan- 
iel   (1)   and   (Belden)    Hurlbutt, 

was  born  in  1740,  in  Wilton,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  a  weaver.  During  the 
Revolutionary  War  he  was  captain  of  a 
militia  company.  His  name,  in  Wilton 
records,  is  generally  written  Holybert. 
He  married  (first)  Naomi  Stuart,  who 
died  in  July,  1764.  He  married  (second) 
March  20,  1765,  Esther  Patrick,  daughter 
of  John  Patrick.  Captain  Hurlbutt  died 
in  Wilton,  February  14,  1827,  and  his 
widow  passed  away  July  2,  1839,  at  tne 
venerable  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

(VII)  John  Hurlbutt,  son  of  Daniel  (2) 
and  Esther  (Patrick)  Hurlbutt,  was  born 
October  14,  1778.  He  was  a  farmer  in 
Wilton.  He  married,  in  1809,  in  Weston, 
Connecticut,  Elizabeth  Ogden,  born  in 
that  place,  July  18,  1785,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Rachel  Ogden,  who  resided 
there. 

(VIII)  William  Bradley  Hurlbutt,  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Ogden)  Hurlbutt, 
was  born  April  3,  181 5,  in  Wilton,  where 
he  was  reared  on  a  farm.  After  receiving 
a  common  school  education,  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  old  Gilbert  &  Bennett  wire 
cloth  factory.  Some  years  later  he  aban- 
doned that  work  in  order  to  engage  in 
the  cultivation  of  a  farm  which  had  been 
his  home  from  the  time  of  his  marriage. 
He  married,  October  4,  1838,  Paulina 
Hurlburt,  born  February  25,  1821,  in  Wil- 
ton, daughter  of  John  Hurlburt,  and 
granddaughter  of  David  Hurlburt,  of 
Ridgefield,  Connecticut,  and  undoubtedly 
a  member  of  another  branch  of  the  Hurl- 
butt family. 

(IX)  Lewis  Raymond  Hurlbutt,  son  of 
William  Bradley  and  Paulina  (Hurlburt) 

Conn-8— 12  I 


Hurlbutt,  was  born  August  23,  1851,  in 
Wilton,  Connecticut,  and  received  his  ed- 
ucation in  schools  of  his  birthplace.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  filled  the  position  of 
clerk  in  a  store  in  Georgetown,  and  then 
entered  the  office  of  the  firm  of  Louns- 
bury  Brothers  &  Company.  This  widely 
known  commercial  house  was  founded 
more  than  half  a  century  ago  by  George 
E.  and  Phineas  C.  Lounsbury,  two  broth- 
ers of  distinguished  ancestry,  both  of 
whom  filled  with  honor  the  high  office 
of  governor  of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 
Biographies  of  the  brothers  appear  else- 
where in  this  work.  The  business  of  the 
firm  was  the  manufacture  of  shoes,  the 
factory  being  first  situated  in  New  Haven 
and  later  removed  to  South  Norwalk, 
when  the  style  was  changed  to  Louns- 
bury, Mathewson  &  Company.  Thence- 
forth the  business  developed  more  rap- 
idly in  consequence  of  enlarged  facilities 
and  finer  equipment.  For  the  superiority 
of  its  product  and  the  integrity  which 
characterized  all  its  dealings  the  firm  be- 
came as  the  years  went  on,  increasingly 
noted.  It  has  always  manufactured 
women's  shoes  only,  and  the  product  is 
sold  direct  to  the  retailer.  The  territory 
covered  by  the  company's  salesmen  em- 
braces the  entire  United  States,  and  the 
number  of  employees  amounts  to  three 
hundred  and  ten.  For  several  years  Mr. 
Hurlbutt,  in  addition  to  partnership  in 
the  firm,  has  held  the  position  of  manager, 
and  to  his  skillful  methods,  clear  fore- 
thought, and  wisely  directed  aggressive- 
ness are  to  be  attributed,  in  no  small 
measure,  the  substantial  success  and  con- 
stantly increasing  scope  of  the  business. 

While  never  found  lacking  in  public 
spirit,  Mr.  Hurlbutt  has  always  refrained 
from  active  participation  in  politics,  pre- 
ferring to  exercise  in  a  very  quiet  way  the 
privileges  of  citizenship,  and  to  perform 
in  the  same  unobtrusive  manner  the  duty 

77 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


he  owes  to  his  community.  He  is  a  di- 
rector of  the  City  National  Bank,  of  South 
Norwalk,  and  the  South  Norwalk  Sav- 
ings Bank.  He  affiliates  with  Ark  Lodge, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
Wilton,  and  with  Cannon  Grange,  Pa- 
trons of  Husbandry,  also  of  that  town. 
His  only  club  is  the  South  Norwalk  Coun- 
try. In  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Wilton  he  holds  the  office  of  trustee. 

The  long  record  of  Mr.  Hurlbutt,  both 
as  a  business  man  and  a  citizen,  is  one  of 
honorable  effort,  faithful  service,  and  un- 
blemished integrity.  He  has  been  in  the 
best  sense  of  the  word  a  truly  successful 
man. 


FERRIS,  Theodore  Isaac, 

Business   Man. 

From  the  earliest  settlement  of  Fairfield 
county,  Connecticut,  the  name  of  Ferris 
has  been  an  honored  one  in  that  State. 
The  ancestors  of  this  family  belonged  to 
the  liberty  loving  class  that  played  an 
important  part  in  the  early  settlement  of 
New  England.  The  name  of  Ferris  bears 
an  enviable  reputation  for  enterprise  and 
public  spirit.  Through  every  branch  of 
this  family  are  found  men  prominent  in 
the  settlement,  government,  and  military 
history  of  their  country. 

The  Ferris  family  is  of  Norman  origin, 
the  name  being  originally  spelled  Ferier 
or  Ferrerr.  It  is  derived  from  Ferian,  to 
convey  across,  and  was  early  given  to  one 
dwelling  near  a  ferry  or  to  the  keeper  of 
the  ferry.  The  first  of  the  family  in  Eng- 
land was  Henry  de  Ferier,  son  of  Gual- 
chelme  de  Ferier,  master  of  the  horse  of 
William  the  Conqueror,  the  Duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, who  obtained  grants  of  land  in 
the  counties  of  Staffordshire,  Derbyshire, 
and  Leicestershire.  It  is  said  of  this 
Henry  that  William  the  Conqueror  rode 
up  to  him  on  the  battle  field,  took  from 


his  own  neck  a  gold  chain,  and  throwing 
it  over  Henry  de  Ferier's  head  said  :  "You 
fight  too  fiercely,  I  must  chain  you  up." 
From  him  are  descended  the  Ferrers,  of 
Groby,  who  bore  for  their  paternal  arms 
the  following: 

Arms — Gules,  seven  mascles  or,  a  canton  ermine. 
Their  Westchester  descendants  carried-. 

Arms — Gules,  a  fleur-de-lis  or,  a  canton  ermine 
with  a  crescent. 

The  arms  of  the  father  of  Henry  de  Fer- 
ier were : 

Arms — Argent,  six  horseshoes,  pierced  sable. 

(I)  Jeffrey  Ferris,  born  in  Leicester- 
shire, England,  about  1610,  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1634,  and  is  by  record  first  located 
in  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  made  freeman,  May  6,  1635.  He 
came  with  the  first  settlers,  and  is  on  the 
list  of  those  who  paid  for  the  survey,  and 
received  ten  acres  of  the  first  assignment 
of  land.  From  Watertown  he  removed 
to  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  where  he  is 
recorded  as  selling  his  lot  of  forty-five 
acres  to  John  Deming.  He  came  with  the 
first  Stamford  colony  from  Wethersfield 
in  1 64 1,  and  lived  on  the  north  side  of 
what  is  now  Broad  street,  west  of  Frank- 
lin street.  Later  he  moved  to  Greenwich, 
Connecticut,  where  he  died  May  31,  1666. 
In  1656  he  was  one  of  the  eleven  Green- 
wich men  who  petitioned  to  be  under  New 
Haven  jurisdiction.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  purchasers  of  land  which  now 
forms  the  town  of  Greenwich.  He  was 
married  three  times.  According  to  tra- 
dition, his  first  wife  was  Ann,  the  sister 
of  John  Milton,  the  blind  poet,  and  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Sarah  (Jeffrey)  Milton. 
"Stamford  Registrations"  says:  "Wife  to 
Jeffrey,  died  31st,  5th,  1658."  Also,  "Su- 
sanna, wife  (who  was  the  widow  of 
Robert  Lockwood),  married,  1659,  died 
at  'Grinwich,'  December  23,  1660." 


178 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(II)  James  Ferris,  son  of  Jeffrey  Fer- 
ris, was  born  about   1643.     He   married 

Mary .     He  is  named  in  the  patent 

granted  to  the  town  of  Greenwich  by  the 
General  Assembly,  in  May,  1665.  He 
died  November  6,  1726. 

(III)  James   (2)    Ferris,  son  of  James 

(1)  and  Mary  Ferris,  was  born  December 
18,  1699,  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and 
died  August  17,  1739.  The  Christian 
name  of  his  wife  was  Mary,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  James  (3),  mentioned 
below. 

(IV)  James   (3)   Ferris,  son  of  James 

(2)  and  Mary  Ferris,  was  born  about 
1732,  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  died 
May  27,  1810.  He  was  called  "old  Whig," 
and  was  captain  of  a  company  in  the  Rev- 
olution. He  paid  this  company  and  fed 
them  out  of  his  own  pocket.  Captain 
Ferris  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British 
and  wore  a  double-breasted  coat  having 
skirt  behind  with  many  buttons,  every 
one  of  which  was  a  gold  guinea  covered 
with  cloth.  When  he  wanted  anything 
he  secretly  cut  off  a  button,  and  the  source 
of  his  money  was  a  constant  cause  of 
wonderment  to  the  British.  The  sword 
which  he  carried  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  his  descendant,  Theodore  I.  Ferris,  of 
this  review.  He  married,  and  was  the 
father  of  Asa,  mentioned  below. 

(V)  Asa  Ferris,  son  of  James  (3)  Fer- 
ris, was  born  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut, 
1769,  and  died  in  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
May  27,  1839,  aged  seventy  years  and 
eleven  days.  He  followed  agriculture  and 
was  a  well  respected  citizen  of  Greenwich 
until  181 5,  when  he  moved  to  Stamford, 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  the  Simsbury 
district.  He  married,  March  21,  1799, 
Polly  Hoyt,  born  May  26,  1773,  died  May 
2,  1840,  aged  sixty-six  years,  eleven 
months  and  seven  days,  daughter  of  Silas 
and  Sarah  (Lockwood)  Hoyt  (see 
Hoyt  V). 


(VI)  Silas  Hoyt  Ferris,  son  of  Asa  and 
Polly  (Hoyt)  Ferris,  was  born  January  15, 
1800,  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  died 
February  25,  1880,  in  Stamford.  The  local 
schools  of  Greenwich  afforded  his  educa- 
tion, and  he  followed  agriculture  through- 
out his  lifetime.  He  married  Charlotte 
Elizabeth  Barnum,  born  July  7,  1808,  in 
Stamford,  died  there  August  20,  1893, 
daughter  of  David  and  Betsey  (Hoyt) 
Barnum.  David  Barnum  died  April  i, 
1838,  aged  forty-nine  years,  seven  months. 
Mrs.  Betsey  (Hoyt)  Barnum  was  a 
granddaughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Skeld- 
ing)  Hoyt,  and  daughter  of  their  son, 
Isaac  (2)  Hoyt,  who  was  born  August  14, 
1767,  and  died  June  9,  1826.  He  married, 
May  23,  1788,  Elizabeth  Hait,  born  Sep- 
tember 8,  1765,  died  December  23,  1835, 
daughter  of  Silvanus  and  Elizabeth  Hait. 
Isaac  (2)  Hoyt  was  a  grandson  of  Abra- 
ham Hait,  mentioned  in  the  previous 
Hoyt  line,  and  a  descendant  of  Simon 
Hait,  the  emigrant,  as  shown  in  that  line. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferris  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children :  David  Barnum, 
born  January  2,  1839,  died  October  4, 
1903 ;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  July  12,  1841, 
died  June  23,  1897;  Silas  Hoyt,  born  Oc- 
tober 10,  1844,  died  July  18,  1897;  Theo- 
dore Isaac,  mentioned  below. 

(VII)  Theodore  Isaac  Ferris,  youngest 
child  of  Silas  Hoyt  and  Charlotte  Eliza- 
beth (Barnum)  Ferris,  was  born  May  24, 
1847,  in  Stamford,  Connecticut.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  in  the  Simsbury 
district  of  Stamford  and  the  Stamford 
High  School.  These  courses  were  sup- 
plemented by  a  few  terms  at  the  Glenden- 
ning  Academy,  conducted  by  Professor 
George  B.  Glendenning,  and  a  noted 
school  at  that  time.  The  paternal  home- 
stead has  continued  to  be  the  home  of 
Mr.  Ferris  throughout  these  many  years, 
and  he  engaged  in  farming  on  an  exten- 
sive scale.     As  the  surrounding  country 


179 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


grew,  and  houses  were  built  more  closely 
together,  Mr.  Ferris  became  interested  in 
real  estate.  With  his  brother,  Silas  H. 
Ferris,  he  laid  out  Woodside  Park,  build- 
ing attractive  driveways  and  approaches. 
A  half  mile  race  track  was  also  built  and 
this  site  has  been  the  scene  of  many  pleas- 
ant hours ;  pleasant  for  the  nature  lover 
as  well  as  the  devotee  of  racing.  The 
business  of  real  estate  in  one  form  or  an- 
other has  occupied  the  greater  part  of  Mr. 
Ferris's  time,  and  he  now  has  large  and 
important  real  estate  holdings.  His  resi- 
dence with  its  spacious  grounds  has  a 
location  unexcelled  in  Stamford,  where 
Ferrises  have  lived  from  early  Colonial 
days.  Although  Mr.  Ferris  has  never 
taken  an  active  part  in  municipal  affairs, 
he  has  that  interest  which  is  at  the  heart 
of  every  good  citizen.  He  bears  the  name 
of  his  family  worthily  and  well,  and  ranks 
deservedly  high  in  both  business  and  fi- 
nancial circles. 

(The  Hoyt   Line). 

(I)  Mrs.  Polly  (Hoyt)  Ferris  was  a  di- 
rect descendant  of  Simon  Hait,  who  is 
believed  to  have  come  in  the  "Abigail"  or 
the  "George."  He  was  in  Charlestown, 
Massachusetts,  among  the  first  settlers, 
and  was  a  first  settler  of  Dorchester,  that 
State,  in  1630.  Thence  he  removed  to 
Scituate,  Massachusetts,  and  from  there 
to  Windsor,  Connecticut.  His  son,  Ben- 
jamin, is  mentioned  below. 

(II)  Benjamin  Hait,  son  of  Simon 
Hait,  was  born  February  2,  1644,  and  died 
January  26,  1735.  He  served  as  fence 
viewer  and  surveyor,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Selectmen  in  Windsor. 
He  married  (first)  January  5,  1670,  Han- 
nah Weed,  born  about  1645,  died  Novem- 
ber 9,  1677,  daughter  of  Jonas  Weed. 

(III)  Benjamin  (2)  Hait,  son  of  Ben- 
pamin  (1)  and  Hannah  (WTeed)  Hait,  was 
born  December  9,  1671,  and  died  in  1747. 


He  lived  in  Stamford,  and  was  selectman 
four  years.  He  married,  June  10,  1697, 
Elizabeth  Jagger,  and  they  were  members 
of  the  South  Congregational  Church. 

(IV)  Abraham  Hait,  son  of  Benjamin 
(2)  and  Elizabeth  (Jagger)  Hait,  was 
born  June  16,  1704,  and  died  March  16. 
1788.  He  was  called  sergeant  as  early  as 
1754,  and  in  1763  served  as  selectman.  He 
married  (first)  November  27,  1727,  Han- 
nah Bates,  and  they  were  members  of  the 
church  in  Stamford.  He  married  (second) 
June  3,  1748,  Hannah  Blachley.  The  old 
house  that  he  and  his  family  inhabited  is 
still  (1920)  standing  on  the  east  side  of 
Bedford  street,  opposite  Oak  street,  owned 
by  Theodore  Isaac  Ferris,  a  descendant. 
Children  of  Abraham  Hait  are:  1.  Han- 
nah, born  December  25,  1730,  married  a 
St.  John.  2.  Abraham,  born  October  13, 
1732,  died  August  20,  1745.  3.  Isaac,  born 
September  14,  1734,  died  1778;  married 
(first)  August  5,  1761,  Mary  Skelding, 
(second)  May  22,  1768,  Sarah  Hait;  he 
was  the  grandfather  of  the  mother  of  The- 
odore I.  Ferris,  as  previously  mentioned. 
4.  Ezra,  born  April  23,  1737.  5.  Silas, 
born  March  2,  1739,  died  January  9,  1825. 
6.  Sarah,  born  February  3,  1741,  married 
John  Holmes.  7.  Thaddeus,  born  Janu- 
ary 26,  1743,  married  Hannah  Holmes; 
he  fought  in  General  Washington's  forces 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  8.  Rachel, 
born  August  7,  1745,  died  September  9, 
1745.  9.  Mary,  born  August  22,  1750, 
died  November  17,  1754.  10.  Bates,  born 
July  7,  1754,  died  September  4,  1776; 
when  the  English  began  the  military  op- 
erations in  August,  1776,  which  resulted 
in  their  capture  of  New  York  City,  the 
Ninth  Regiment  of  Connecticut,  in  which 
was  Captain  Webb's  company,  of  Stam- 
ford, marched  to  New  York  and  was 
quartered  on  Broadway  near  Trinity 
Church.  Bates  was  sergeant  of  this  com- 
pany and  Silas  and  Thaddeus  were  pri- 


180 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


vates.  At  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  near 
Jamaica,  August  27,  1776,  Bates  was 
wounded  and  died  September  4,  1776.  On 
one  occasion,  one  of  the  sons  of  Abraham 
Hait,  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  old  home, 
having  been  tracked  to  that  refuge  by 
blood  from  his  wounds  in  the  snow.  This 
old  home  is  one  of  the  few  houses  in  the 
locality  dating  to  pre-Revolutionary 
times. 

(V)  Silas  Hoyt,  son  of  Abraham  and 
Hannah  (Bates)  Hait,  was  born  March 
2,  1739,  died  January  9,  1825.  He  mar- 
ried, November  14,  1765,  Sarah  Lock- 
wood,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Polly 
Hoyt,  who  became  the  wife  of  Asa  Ferris 
(see  Ferris  V). 


FERRIS,  Clarence  Clark, 

Attorney,  Public  Official. 

A  sound  lawyer,  and  with  skill  and 
ability  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  day, 
Clarence  C.  Ferris  is  also  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  early  Colonial  fam- 
ilies of  Connecticut.  The  Ferris  family  is 
of  Norman  origin,  the  name  being  origi- 
nally spelled  Feriers  or  Ferrers. 

(III)  Samuel  Ferris,  son  of  James  and 
Mary  Ferris  (q.  v.),  was  born  September 
21,  1706,  and  died  April  25,  1786.  He 
married  Ann  Lockwood,  daughter  of  Ger- 
shom  and  Mary  Lockwood,  born  in  1713, 
died  July  2,  1789. 

(IV)  Stephen  Ferris,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Ann  (Lockwood)  Ferris,  was  born 
December  27,  1740,  and  died  February  12, 
1824.  He  married  Sarah  H.  Lockwood, 
who  died  November  23,  1848. 

(V)  Samuel  (2)  Ferris,  son  of  Stephen 
and  Sarah  H.  (Lockwood)  Ferris,  was 
born  January  25,  1787,  and  died  June  1, 
1842.  He  was  captain  of  militia  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  took  his  company  to  the 
beach  at  Old  Greenwich,  now  called 
Sound  Beach,  when  invasion  by  the  Brit- 


ish was  feared.  On  January  7,  181 1,  he 
married  Esther  Ferris,  born  October  12, 
1792,  died  March  11,  1881,  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  Ferris. 

(VI)  Samuel  Holmes  Ferris,  son  of  Sam- 
uel (2)  and  Esther  (Ferris)  Ferris,  was 
born  December  12,  1827,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 25,  1888.  He  was  a  farmer  throughout 
his  lifetime  and  a  very  public-spirited  citi- 
zen. In  association  with  the  late  Amasa  A. 
Marks,  Mr.  Ferris  was  a  leading  spirit  in 
securing  the  appropriation  of  money  to 
build  a  new  school  house  at  Sound  Beach, 
about  1877.  Mr.  Ferris  married,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1 861,  Mary  Clark,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Clark,  of  Haddam ;  she  was  born 
April  16,  1838,  and  died  October  15,  1886. 
Their  children  were :  Harry  Burr,  and 
Clarence  Clark,  of  whom  further. 

(VII)  Clarence  Clark  Ferris,  son  of 
Samuel  Holmes  and  Mary  (Clark)  Ferris, 
was  born  February  15,  1864,  and  prepared 
for  college  at  the  Claverack  Academy,  and 
Hudson  River  Institute,  Claverack,  Co- 
lumbia county,  New  York,  under  the  well 
known  Dr.  Alonzo  Flack,  an  educator  of 
great  individuality,  and  Professor  Wil- 
liam McAfee,  Yale  College,  class  of  1864. 
In  1887  Mr.  Ferris  graduated  from  Yale 
College  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.,  and  in 
1892  from  Columbia  University  with  the 
degree  of  LL.  B.  After  graduation  in 
1887,  Mr.  Ferris  was  principal  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Colchester,  Connecticut, 
holding  a  similar  position  in  Manchester, 
Connecticut,  the  following  year.  In  1891 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  New  York 
and  has  always  practiced  alone.  Mr. 
Ferris  specializes  in  condemnation  pro- 
ceedings and  has  made  a  signal  success  in 
his  chosen  field. 

Always  keenly  interested  in  public  mat- 
ters, although  not  coming  from  an  office- 
holding  family,  he  has  taken  part  in  civic 
affairs  in  his  adopted  town,  Scarsdale, 
Westchester  county,  New  York.    In  poli- 


181 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


tics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  1916  was  a 
candidate  for  the  New  York  Senate  from 
Westchester  county,  running  an  average 
of  two  thousand  votes  ahead  of  the  rest 
of  the  ticket.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
National  Democratic  Club  of  New  York 
City,  and  maintains  his  residence  in  Scars- 
dale,  Westchester  county.  With  his 
brother,  Professor  Harry  Burr  Ferris,  of 
New  Haven,  Mr.  Ferris  owns  fifty-six 
acres  of  the  original  farm  granted  to  their 
ancestor  and  which  is  now  under  lease  to 
the  Sound  Beach  Golf  and  Country  Club. 

While  at  Columbia  University,  Mr. 
Ferris  became  a  member  of  the  Delta  Up- 
silon  fraternity,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
Delta  Phi,  the  legal  fraternity  having 
chapters  in  most  law  schools. 

Mr.  Ferris  married  Bertha  Vincent 
Odell,  daughter  of  Edward  Valentine 
Odell,  the  latter  born  in  Hyde  Park, 
Dutchess  county,  but  Mrs.  Ferris  was 
born  in  New  York  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ferris  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  Richard  Odell,  born  September 
14,  1914;  and  Jeffrey,  born  June  20,  1916. 
Mr.  Ferris  and  his  family  attend  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Scarsdale. 

(The  Lockwood  Line). 

Robert  Lockwood  came  to  New  Eng- 
land about  1630,  and  settled  in  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts.  He  was  admitted 
a  freeman  March  9,  1636-37.  As  early  as 
1641  he  was  recorded  a  settler  in  Fair- 
field, Connecticut,  and  died  in  1658.  For 
a  time  he  lived  at  Norwalk,  Connecticut. 
His  wife  was  Susannah,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  Lieutenant  Gershom  Lock- 
wood,  of  whom  further. 

Lieutenant  Gershom  Lockwood  was 
born  September  6,  1643,  at  Watertown, 
and  died  March  12,  1718-19,  at  Greenwich. 
He  was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  re- 
moved to  Greenwich  wifh  his  father  and 
became  one  of  the  twenty-seven  propri- 


etors. By  occupation  he  was  a  carpenter, 
and  also  held  many  positions  of  trust  in 
the  town.  Lieutenant  Lockwood  married 
Lady  Ann  Millington,  daughter  of  Lord 
Millington,  of  England.  She  came  to 
New  England  in  search  of  her  lover,  a 
British  army  officer.  Failing  to  find  him, 
she  taught  school  and  afterwards  married 
Gershom  Lockwood.  In  1660  her  parents 
sent  her  a  large  oak  chest,  ingeniously 
carved  and  strongly  built.  Tradition  says 
it  contained  a  half-bushel  of  guineas, 
many  fine  silk  dresses  and  other  valu- 
ables. This  chest  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  Clarence  Clark  Ferris,  of  Greenwich. 
A  photograph  of  the  chest  may  be  seen 
in  "History  of  the  Lockwood  Family," 
also  in  "Colonial  Furniture,"  by  Luke 
Vincent  Lockwood.  The  only  part  of  the 
story  open  to  question  is  the  amount  of 
guineas  the  chest  contained.  The  grand- 
mother of  Mr.  Ferris  was  sure  the  rest  of 
the  story  was  true. 

Gershom  (2)  Lockwood,  the  eldest  son 
of  Lieutenant  Gershom  and  Ann  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  in  Greenwich,  and  was 
made  a  freeman  February  7,  1693.  He 
married  Mary,  and  their  daughter,  Ann 
Lockwood,  became  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Ferris,  as  above  noted. 


SKIDDY,  William  Wheelright, 

Manufacturer,  Philanthropist. 

In  recent  years  the  struggle  for  busi- 
ness supremacy  has  narrowed  the  horizon 
of  too  many  men.  Here  and  there  men 
stand  out  from  among  the  multitude, 
frankly  opening  their  hearts  and  minds  to 
the  broad,  general  interests  which  lift  so- 
ciety from  the  level  of  the  sordid  and  place 
it  on  a  higher  plane. 

William  W.  Skiddy  believes  that  the 
surest  way  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the 
individual  is  to  aid  the  individual  to  un- 
derstand and  accept  the  mental,  moral  and 


182 


■ 


..-'■- 


e)/fcCo£^C, 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


spiritual  standards  of  the  community.  In 
his  own  way,  he  is  constantly  acting  upon 
this  theory. 

The  family  name  became  Skiddy 
through  William  W.  Skiddy's  father, 
whose  name  was  properly  William  Tay- 
lor, adopting  for  his  surname  "Skiddy" 
as  hereinafter  stated. 

The  founding  of  this  family  in  this 
country  dates  back  to  three  brothers 
in  Scotland,  Zachariah,  John  and  Wil- 
liam. Zachariah  Taylor,  the  original 
ancestor  of  Zachary  Taylor,  twelfth 
president  of  the  United  States,  came  to 
this  country  and  went  to  Culpepper,  Vir- 
ginia. John  Taylor  went  to  Albany,  New 
York.  William  Taylor  resided  in  New 
York  City.  William  Taylor  married  a 
Miss  Van  Pelt,  known  as  one  of  the 
Knickerbockers,  descendants  of  the  Hol- 
landers. Miss  Van  Pelt  was  the  daughter 
of  Teunisse  Van  Pelt,  who  immigrated 
from  Leige  in  1663,  with  his  father.  They 
had  three  daughters  and  one  son,  Richard, 
who  graduated  from  Yale,  and  one  daugh- 
ter married  Judge  Kent,  of  New  York. 
William  Taylor  took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance in  1687,  his  name  appearing  on 
various  records.  In  1674  he  received  a 
grant  of  land  on  Staten  Island,  consisting 
of  ninety-eight  acres. 

Benjamin  Taylor,  a  son  of  William 
Taylor,  was  in  the  Colonial-English 
army  in  1753  or  1754,  and  was  in  the  cam- 
paign against  the  French  and  Indians  at 
Fort  Duquesne.  He  was  captured  and 
taken  to  Quebec  as  a  prisoner,  later  sent 
to  France  with  other  prisoners  and  con- 
fined in  prison  in  Havre  de  Gras,  and  re- 
turned to  America  about  1762.  Benjamin 
Taylor  was  buried  in  the  Methodist  Cem- 
etery in  Johnville,  Fishkill,  New  York, 
the  tombstone  giving  his  death  as  of  Sep- 
tember 12,  1831,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four 
years.  About  1763  he  married,  at  Ver- 
planck's  Point,  Jemima  Foster,  daughter 


of  Ebenezer  and  Desire  (Cushman)  Fos- 
ter. Benjamin  Taylor's  sons  were  James, 
of  further  mention  ;  Augustus  ;  and  Jus- 
tus, of  further  mention. 

James  Taylor  was  born  in  Peekskill, 
New  York,  and  as  a  young  man  entered 
the  Continental  army  and  was  with  Gen- 
eral Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  He 
later  married  Salome  Partridge,  and  went 
to  Westford,  Vermont.  They  had  four- 
teen children,  but  two  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  were :  Lucius,  Benjamin,  Isa- 
bella, James  and  Foster,  born  in  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  Salome,  Amos,  Amelita,  and 
Alpha  born  in  Peekskill ;  Augustus,  Eliza- 
beth Lent  and  William  Skiddy,  born  in 
Westford,  Vermont.  His  youngest  son, 
William  Skiddy  Taylor,  married  a  Miss 
Depew,  of  Peekskill,  and  later  went 
West,  where  he  died. 

The  descent  of  the  Foster  family  has 
been  traced  back  to  the  year  837  in  Flan- 
ders, showing  a  descendancy  line  of 
twenty-three  generations  up  to  Reginald, 
who  embarked  for  America  in  1638.  The 
ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the  family  was 
John  Foster,  born  in  England,  1626.  He 
came  over  with  Roger  Conant  and  landed 
at  Plymouth,  Massachusetts.  He  be- 
came a  freeman,  May  24,  1682,  and  died 
in  March,  1688.  About  1649,  he  married 
Martha  Tomkins,  a  daughter  of  Ralph 
and  Katherine  (Aborn)  Tomkins,  who 
was  born  about  1630.  Their  son,  the  Hon. 
John  Foster,  was  born  in  1649.  He  lived 
in  Salem,  where  he  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens.  He  served  as  moder- 
ator, representative  and  justice  of  the 
peace.  John  Foster  married,  in  1672, 
Mary  Stuard.  She  died  about  1690,  and 
he  died  in  1714.  Their  son,  Major  Foster, 
was  born  November  15,  1680,  in  Salem. 
On  December  4,  1704,  Major  Foster  mar- 
ried, in  Roxbury,  Margaret  Ware,  and 
their  son,  Ebenezer  Foster,  married  De- 
sire  Cushman,   a   descendant   of   Robert 


183 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Cushman ;  and  their  daughter,  Jemima, 
born  July  6,  1741,  married,  at  Verplanck's 
Point,  Benjamin  Taylor,  as  already 
stated. 

The  Cushman  descent  is  as  follows : 
Robert  Cushman,  the  ancestor  of  all  the 
Cushmans  in  the  United  States,  was  born 
in  England  between  the  years  1580  and 
1585.  He  was  a  Puritan,  and  a  member  of 
the  church  of  Rev.  John  Robinson,  who 
emigrated  to  Holland  during  the  years 
1607  and  1608.  After  residing  in  Amster- 
dam about  a  year  they  removed  to  Ley- 
den,  where  during  the  succeeding  years 
the  congregation  grew  to  about  three  hun- 
dred communicants.  In  1617  Robert 
Cushman  and  Deacon  John  Carver  were 
selected  to  go  to  London  and  open  ne- 
gotiations with  the  Virginia  Company 
for  liberty  to  settle  in  North  America,  and 
"to  see  if  the  King  would  give  them  lib- 
erty of  conscience  there."  The  history  of 
those  negotiations  is  familiar  to  all.  They 
found  their  mission  a  difficult  one,  but 
after  great  procrastination  and  long  and 
tedious  negotiation,  a  patent  was  finally 
obtained  by  which  they  were  permitted 
to  settle  in  America.  As  it  finally  turned 
out,  this  patent  was  never  used,  but  the 
Pilgrims  were  determined  to  emigrate  to 
America.  Friends  finally  supplied  the  fi- 
nancial aid  necessary.  Deacon  Carver 
and  Robert  Cushman  were  sent  to  Eng- 
land to  receive  the  money  and  provide  for 
the  voyage.  Again  the  delays  were  many 
and  vexatious.  The  "Speedwell"  was  ob- 
tained in  Holland,  a  ship  of  only  sixty 
tons,  smaller  than  the  average  fishing 
smack  that  goes  to  the  Grand  Banks.  In 
the  meantime,  Robert  Cushman  had  hired 
in  London  a  larger  vessel,  the  "May- 
flower," of  about  one  hundred  and  eighty 
tons,  and  had  sent  her  to  Southampton  to 
meet  his  comrades  from  Holland.  When 
the  two  vessels  sailed  from  Southampton, 
August  5,  1620,  Robert  Cushman  and  his 


family  were  among  the  passengers,  but 
when  it  was  decided  that  the  "Speedwell" 
should  be  abandoned,  the  Cushmans, 
greatly  disappointed,  were  among  the 
number  returned  to  London  because  the 
"Mayflower"  could  not  carry  the  entire 
party.  In  London,  Robert  Cushman 
acted  as  the  agent  of  the  Pilgrims  who 
had  emigrated,  and  as  a  leader  of  those 
who  had  been  compelled  to  remain  be- 
hind. The  following  year  Robert  Cush- 
man secured  the  "Fortune,"  a  small  ves- 
sel of  fifty  tons,  and  a  party  of  thirty-six, 
including  the  Cushmans,  set  sail  for 
America,  arriving  off  Cape  Cod,  Novem- 
ber 9,  1621.  Robert  Cushman  remained 
in  the  colony  only  about  a  month,  it  be- 
ing necessary  for  him  to  return  to  Eng- 
land to  look  after  business  affairs  of  the 
colony.  He  was  allotted  an  acre  of  land 
in  the  first  allotment  which  was  made  in 
1623,  but  at  that  time  was  in  England  and 
was  destined  not  to  return  to  America. 
In  1623,  in  connection  with  Edward 
Winslow.  Robert  Cushman  negotiated  the 
charter  for  the  settlement  of  what  is 
now  Gloucester,  Massachusetts.  Robert 
Cushman  died  in  January  or  February, 
1625.  He  "was  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished characters  among  the  collection 
of  worthies  who  quitted  England  on  ac- 
count of  their  religious  difficulties."  "He 
was  one  of  the  first  movers  and  main 
instruments  of  the  Puritan  dissent  of 
England,  their  pilgrimage  to  Holland,  and 
their  final  settlement  in  America,"  and 
history  has  given  him  a  high  place  among 
the  leaders  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers. 

Elder  Thomas  Cushman,  born  in  Eng- 
land in  February,  1608,  accompanied  his 
father  to  America.  He  was  left  in  the 
care  of  Governor  Bradford  when  his  fa- 
ther returned  to  England.  On  January  1, 
1633,  Thomas  Cushman  was  admitted  to 
the  freedom  of  the  society.  He  served  as 
juryman   in    1635,   and   in   that  year,   or 


184 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1636,  he  married  Mary,  the  third  child  of 
Isaac  Allerton,  who  came  in  the  "May- 
flower." In  1637  he  received  a  grant  of 
land  and  later  he  removed  to  what  is  now 
Kingston,  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  In  1645  ne  purchased  Princess 
farm.  In  1649  ^e  was  appointed  ruling 
elder  of  the  church  in  Plymouth,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  office  until  his  death.  He 
was  the  principal  witness  to  Governor 
Bradford's  will,  and  inventoried  his  estate. 
Thomas  Cushman  died  December  10  or 
11,  1 69 1.  From  the  records  of  the  First 
Church  at  Plymouth,  the  following  quota- 
tion is  made :  "  *  *  *  He  was  grave, 
sober,  holy  and  temperate,  very  studious 
and  solicitous  for  the  peace  and  prosperity 
of  the  church  and  to  prevent  and  heale  all 
breaches."  He  left  quite  an  estate  for 
those  days,  indicating  that  he  was  pros- 
perous and  thrifty.  After  the  dismissal 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Rayner,  in  1654,  and  until  the 
settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton,  in  1657, 
he  conducted  the  religious  services  twice 
on  every  Sunday,  and  during  that  time 
was  the  only  preacher  the  church  had. 
He  was  a  participant  in  the  making  of  the 
first  treaty  with  Massachusetts  and  Sam- 
oset.  Mary  (Allerton)  Cushman,  his 
wife,  was  about  eleven  years  of  age  when 
she  came  over  in  the  "Mayflower."  She 
was  the  last  survivor  of  the  Pilgrim  band, 
dying  seven  or  eight  years  after  her  hus- 
band, at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 
They  reared  a  family  of  seven  children, 
all  of  whom  married. 

Thomas  Cushman,  the  third  in  this  line 
of  descent,  was  born  September  16,  1637. 
On  November  17,  1664,  he  married  Ruth, 
daughter  of  John  Howland,  whose  name 
was  thirteenth  on  the  list  of  forty-one 
persons  who  signed  the  memorable  com- 
pact in  the  cabin  of  the  "Mayflower."  At 
that  time  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of 
age.  Thomas  Cushman  was  during  a 
long  life  a  member  of  the  Congregational 


church  in  Plympton.  He  died  August  23, 
1726. 

Samuel  Cushman,  son  of  Thomas  Cush- 
man, was  born  July  16,  1687.  He  mar- 
ried Fear  Corser,  December  8,  1709.  They 
were  members  of  the  church  in  Plympton. 
In  1727  they  removed  to  Attleboro.  Their 
eldest  child  was  Desire  Cushman,  born 
September  18,  1710.  On  September  17, 
1730,  she  married  Ebenezer  Foster,  who 
was  born  in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts, 
August  20,  1709.  Their  daughter  was 
Jemima  Foster,  born  July  6,  1741,  who 
married  Benjamin  Taylor. 

Justus  Taylor,  the  youngest  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Jemima  (Foster)  Taylor,  was 
the  owner  of  a  vessel  trading  between 
New  York  and  West  Indies.  On  a  trip 
to  the  latter  place  he  contracted  yellow 
fever,  was  brought  back  to  Peekskill,  New 
York,  but  never  recovered,  and  died  and 
was  buried  there.  His  widow,  who  was 
formerly  Rosetta  Place,  subsequently 
married  Captain  John  Skiddy,  and  when 
she  married  Captain  Skiddy  she  had  one 
son,  William. 

Captain  William  (Taylor)  Skiddy  was 
a  child,  when  his  mother  married  for  the 
second  time,  and  when  he  went  to  school 
he  took  the  name  of  his  mother's  second 
husband.  In  course  of  time  he  decided, 
having  an  independent  spirit,  to  take  care 
of  himself,  and  accordingly  ran  away, 
going  to  England,  where  he  had  relatives. 
These  relatives  sent  him  to  some  of  their 
intimate  friends  in  Bordeaux,  France, 
and  there  he  remained  for  several  years 
attending  school,  but  finally  returned  to 
the  United  States  and  entered  the  United 
States  navy.  In  the  War  of  1812,  he  was 
a  midshipman  on  the  United  States 
steamship  "Hornet,"  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  with  the  British  sloop,  "Penguin," 
March  15,  181 5.  He  was  later  in  another 
engagement,  was  captured  and  sent  to 
England  as  a  prisoner,  where  he  was  kept 


185 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


for  several  months  in  the  famous  Dart- 
more  Prison,  and  finally  was  released  and 
returned  to  the  United  States,  when  he 
became  a  naval  architect  and  builder.  He 
was  associated  in  that  capacity  with  two 
or  three  of  the  important  shipping  con- 
cerns of  New  York,  among  them  the 
house  of  Grinnell  Minton  &  Company 
and  Howland  &  Aspinwall.  It  was  the 
custom  in  those  days  for  the  large  houses 
engaged  in  foreign  commerce  to  build  and 
operate  their  own  vessels,  known  as 
"clippers,"  and  Captain  Skiddy  would 
build  a  vessel  for  them  with  the  agree- 
ment that  he  was  to  command  her  on  her 
maiden  voyage,  selling  her  cargo  at  one 
port  and  buying  at  that  port  to  sell  at 
another  port.  When  this  voyage  was 
completed,  he  would  design  and  build  an- 
other vessel  and  in  turn  go  out  with  her 
for  the  maiden  voyage.  Captain  Skiddy 
was  occupied  in  this  way  until  1840.  He 
married,  in  England,  his  second  wife, 
Mary  A.  Anderson,  daughter  of  an  Eng- 
lish judge,  and  then  returned  to  America 
with  his  bride  and  settled  in  New  York 
City,  where  he  established  himself  in 
private  practice  as  a  naval  architect,  mak- 
ing contracts  to  design,  build  and  equip 
vessels,  and  turn  them  over  to  their  own- 
ers complete  and  ready  for  sea.  When 
steamships  began  to  supplant  sailing  ves- 
sels, he  turned  his  attention  to  designing 
the  more  modern  craft,  of  which  he  built 
a  large  number,  among  them  being  the 
old  side-wheelers,  "Argo"  and  "Fulton," 
of  the  French  Line,  running  from  New 
York  to  Havre ;  the  "Jamestown"  and 
"Yorktown,"  which  plied  between  New 
York  and  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  many 
others. 

In  1858  he  moved  from  New  York  City 
to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  building  a  res- 
idence on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
present  United  States  Post  Office.  He 
practically  retired  from  active  work,  al- 


though he  occasionally  acted  as  consult- 
ing architect  and  supervised  in  the  con- 
struction of  steamers.  Captain  Skiddy 
was  much  interested  in  all  charitable  and 
philanthropic  movements.  After  moving 
to  Stamford,  he  was  greatly  disturbed  by 
the  unsanitary  condition  in  which  he 
found  many  of  the  dependent  poor,  and  as 
the  result  of  his  agitation  the  town  of 
Stamford  gave  up  the  practice  of  "letting 
out"  its  paupers,  and  established  a  poor 
farm.  Captain  Skiddy  was  a  fine  exam- 
ple of  a  constructive,  broadminded  and 
charitable  citizen,  always  trying  to  con- 
tribute to  the  progress  and  development 
of  the  day. 

William  Wheelright  Skiddy,  son  of 
Captain  William  and  Mary  A.  (Ander- 
son) Skiddy,  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
April  26,  1845.  His  early  life  was  passed 
in  New  York,  and  there  he  received  an 
excellent  education.  He  attended  the 
Anthon  Private  School  and  prepared  for 
college  at  the  Russel  Military  Academy 
of  New  Haven,  graduating  from  the  Shef- 
field Scientific  School  in  1865  with  the 
degree  of  Ph.  B.  He  then  entered  the 
office  of  his  uncle,  Francis  Skiddy,  in 
Wall  street,  New  York  City,  and  three 
years  later  became  associated  with  E.  A. 
Quintard  (who  married  his  eldest  sister), 
in  the  coal  mining  interests  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  thus  occupied  for  eight 
years.  In  the  meantime,  he  had  married 
Eleanor  Mott  Gay,  a  daughter  of  William 
Gay,  of  Stamford,  Connecticut.  The  lat- 
ter was  interested  in  the  Stamford  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  and  was  its  presi- 
dent. In  June,  1875,  Mr.  Skiddy  became 
connected  with  the  Stamford  Manufactur- 
ing Company.  Being  determined  to  mas- 
ter the  business  in  all  its  branches,  he 
commenced  by  helping  to  unload  logwood 
and  other  raw  materials  received  in  ves- 
sels from  the  West  Indies ;  he  donned 
overalls  and  continued  to  work  step  by 


186 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


step  until  he  had  gone  through  all  of  the 
departments  and  had  a  thorough  and 
practical  knowledge  of  every  detail  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  company's  products. 
After  devoting  several  years  in  secur- 
ing this  knowledge,  he  was  soon  made 
a  member  of  the  board  of  directors.  In 
1887  he  was  elected  president  of  the  com- 
pany, and  the  business  grew  very  rapidly 
in  size  and  importance.  At  the  time  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  February  19,  1919, 
it  was  seven  or  eight  times  as  large  as 
when  he  became  connected  with  it,  or  in 
other  words,  in  1875,  about  seven  thou- 
sand tons  of  raw  material  were  required 
for  the  extracts  manufactured  each  year, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  fire  they  required 
one  thousand  tons  per  week.  The  prod- 
ucts went  all  over  the  world,  and  such 
was  the  company's  reputation  that  its 
prices  were  universally  accepted  as  the 
basis  on  which  all  other  dye  products 
were  priced.  At  the  "Exchange"  in  Ham- 
burg, Germany,  when  quotations  were 
quoted  on  various  natural  dyes,  the  ques- 
tion immediately  asked  before  any  busi- 
ness could  be  transacted  was  "what  is 
the  price  of  Stamford?"  The  company 
manufactured  all  kinds  of  natural  dyes 
for  silk,  cotton,  wool  and  leather.  The 
business  was  established  in  1796  and  was 
incorporated  as  the  Stamford  Manufac- 
turing Company  in  1844,  and  was  the 
acknowledged  leader  of  its  line  in  the 
world.  At  the  time  of  the  disaster,  about 
five  hundred  men  were  employed.  Dur- 
ing the  years  that  had  passed,  many 
changes,  both  mechanical  and  chemical, 
had  been  made  in  methods  and  processes, 
the  machinery  more  and  more  supplant- 
ing human  labor.  On  the  basis  of  1876, 
it  would  have  required  at  the  time  of  the 
fire  fifteen  hundred  hands  to  turn  out 
the  product  that  science  and  progress 
made  possible  for  five  hundred  to  do.  To 
see  a  business  thus  carefully  nurtured  for 


nearly  half  a  century  wiped  out  overnight 
is  a  staggering  blow.  Great  as  was  the 
financial  loss,  there  was  another  loss  less 
tangible,  but  perhaps  even  harder  to  bear. 
To  live  with  an  idea  for  any  enterprise  is 
but  the  concrete  expression  of  an  idea,  year 
after  year  to  see  it  grow  and  develop  into 
sturdy  strength,  winning  world-wide  rec- 
ognition, and  then  in  a  few  hours  to  be 
destroyed  as  if  it  had  never  been,  the 
sense  of  loss  can  be  apprehended  only  by 
one  who  has  experienced  it.  He  imme- 
diately started  plans  for  rebuilding  the 
plant,  but  the  advice  of  friends  that  it 
was  too  great  a  task  to  be  undertaken  at 
his  time  of  life  finally  convinced  him  that 
he  was  wrong  and  so  he  decided  to  give 
up  active  commercial  life. 

He  was  vice-president  and  director  of 
the  Stamford  National  Bank  for  many 
years,  and  when  it  was  merged  with  the 
First  National  Bank  under  the  name  of 
the  First  Stamford  National  Bank,  he  was 
elected  a  vice-president  and  director  of 
the  new  organization.  For  many  years  he 
has  been  a  director  of  the  Stamford  Sav- 
ings Bank,  a  director  of  the  Stamford 
Trust  Company,  and  a  director  of  the 
Morris  Plan  Bank.  His  fraternal  affili- 
ations are  as  follows:  Union  Lodge,  No. 
5,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; 
Rittenhouse  Chapter,  No.  11,  Royal  Arch 
Masons ;  the  Suburban  Club  of  Stamford ; 
Yale  and  University  clubs  of  New  York ; 
Graduate  Club  of  New  Haven ;  Society  of 
the  War  of  1812;  Church  clubs  of  New 
York  and  Connecticut,  etc.  He  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Connecticut 
Church  Club  ;  as  chairman  of  the  trustees 
of  the  Church  Club  of  New  York;  and 
was  one  time  president  of  the  Church 
Conference  of  the  United  States.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Episcopal  Church  of  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  serving  as  warden  and  dele- 

87 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


gate  to  the  Diocesan  Convention  for  forty 
years. 

He  resides  in  New  York  City  during 
the  winter  months,  being  identified  there 
with  Grace  Church,  and  being  a  delegate 
of  the  Diocese  of  New  York.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Convention  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  from  1886 
to  1898,  representing  the  Diocese  of  Con- 
necticut, and  since  1898  has  been  treas- 
urer of  the  General  Convention.  For 
more  than  twenty-five  years  he  has  been 
interested  as  director  and  officer  in  the 
Boys'  Club  of  New  York  City,  which  has 
over  eight  thousand  members.  This  club 
has  a  large  and  complete  house  at  the 
corner  of  Avenue  A  and  Tenth  street,  and 
a  large  summer  camp  in  Jamesport,  Long 
Island,  which  he  is  actively  interested  in, 
as  well  as  the  summer  home  for  children 
belonging  to  Grace  Parish  of  New  York 
and  which  is  located  near  New  Canaan, 
Connecticut. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Skiddy  was  a  Democrat 
until  1896,  and  during  that  time  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  in  Chicago 
which  nominated  Grover  Cleveland  for 
president.  He  was  brigadier-general  of 
commissary  under  Governor  Thomas 
Waller.  While  he  was  a  student  at  the 
Russell  Military  School,  during  the  Civil 
War,  he  was  among  those  detailed  to  drill 
some  of  the  three  months'  volunteers. 
There  was  little  knowledge  of  military 
training  at  that  time.  Several  companies 
belonging  to  the  First  and  Second  regi- 
ments were  trained  at  Halleck's  Point  in 
New  Haven,  and  General  Russell  was 
asked  to  detail  some  of  his  boys  to  train 
these  companies,  and  young  Skiddy,  who 
was  then  captain  of  the  second  company 
at  the  school,  was  among  those  selected. 
He  spent  a  month  at  the  camp  thus  em- 
ployed and  was  asked  to  go  out  as  first 
lieutenant  and  was  eager  to  do  so,  but  on 
account  of  his  youth  it  was  impossible. 


As  a  loyal  Yale  man  he  has  always  been 
interested  in  everything  pertaining  to 
Yale,  and  in  June,  1890,  at  the  alumni 
meeting  in  New  Haven,  he  proposed  the 
establishing  of  a  Yale  Alumni  University 
Fund  Association  and  offered  a  resolution 
to  that  purpose,  which  was  adopted  and 
unanimously  approved  the  following  day 
at  the  annual  alumni  lunch.  The  associ- 
ation has  been  most  successful  and  has 
become  an  important  asset  to  the  Univer- 
sity, having  contributed  up  to  the  present 
time  over  $3,800,000.  While  at  Yale  he 
was  interested  in  rowing  and  has  retained 
his  interest  in  that  sport.  In  the  Class 
Biographical  Records  of  Yale,  it  states 
that  from  1900  to  1905,  inclusive,  Yale 
won  ever  varsity  race  at  New  London, 
during  which  time  he  was  graduate  ad- 
visor. 

Mr.  Skiddy  married,  in  April,  1867, 
Eleanor  Mott  Gay,  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Gay,  of  Stamford,  Connecticut,  and 
they  had  three  children :  William,  de- 
ceased ;  Lillie,  wife  of  Willard  Parker,  Jr., 
class  of  1890,  Yale ;  and  Adele,  wife  of 
R.  W.  Carle,  class  of  1897,  Yale. 


TREADWELL,  John  Prime, 

Man  of  Affairs. 

From  the  time  of  the  earliest  Colonial 
settlements  the  name  of  Treadwell  is 
found  in  the  annals  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut.  Members  of  this  family, 
descendants  from  the  two  immigrants, 
Charles  and  Edward  Treadwell,  are  to  be 
found  occupying  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility  in  many  of  our  cities.  One 
of  these  notable  descendants  was  Gover- 
nor John  Treadwell,  of  Colonial  days. 
The  Rev.  John  Treadwell  was  a  scholar 
of  repute.  So  it  is  today ;  descendants 
bearing  the  name  of  Treadwell  occupy 
honored  places  among  their  fellow-citi- 
zens.   John  Prime  Treadwell,  president  of 


188 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


the  National  Bank  of  Norwalk,  is  another 
worthy  scion  of  this  family. 

There  were  varied  ways  of  designating 
families  prior  to  the  thirteenth  century. 
The  most  common  one  was  according  to 
the  location  of  homes,  and  the  surname  of 
Treadwell  is  thus  derived.  It  is  a  com- 
pound of  tread  and  well.  The  first  half, 
tread,  is  the  old  English  word  for  path 
or  pathway ;  well  was  originally  wiella, 
old  English  for  spring.  We  therefore 
have  the  derivation  of  path  by  a  well,  near 
which  resided  a  family  who  were  thus 
designated.  It  was  very  natural  for  this 
family  to  assume  this  name  when  the  use 
of  surnames  came  into  vogue. 

The  earliest  mention  of  the  name  of 
Treadwell  in  America  is  found  on  the 
Dorchester  records  in  March,  1637,  when 
the  name  of  Thomas  Treadwell  is  re- 
corded. This  Thomas  Treadwell  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  a  brother  of  Edward 
Treadwell. 

(I)  Edward  Treadwell  also  appears  in 
Litchfield,  Connecticut,  in  1637.  He  re- 
moved soon  after  to  Huntington,  Long 
Island,  where  he  died,  in  1660.  He  had 
a  son  Samuel,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Samuel  Treadwell  married  Ruth 
Wheeler,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Wheeler, 
and  removed  to  Fairfield,  Connecticut. 
He  was  undoubtedly  the  father  of 
Thomas  Treadwell. 

(III)  Thomas  Treadwell  was  born 
about  1683,  and  was  settled  early  in  Fair- 
field, Connecticut,  and  was  the  father  of 
Hezekiah  Treadwell. 

(IV)  Hezekiah  Treadwell  was  born  in 
1708,  and  died  in  1761.  He  held  the  rank 
of  lieutenant  in  the  militia  company. 
With  his  family  he  removed  to  Stratford, 
then  to  New  Milford,  Connecticut.  In 
1730  he  married  Mehetable  Minor,  born 
in  1709,  died  in  1763.  They  were  the 
parents  of  a  son,  Hezekiah  (2)  Treadwell. 

(V)  Hezekiah  (2)  Treadwell  was  born 


February  14,  1741,  one  of  twins.  He  lived 
first  in  Stratford,  and  later  in  New  Milford, 
Connecticut.  He  married  (first)  in  1763, 
Sally  Banks,  of  Stratford,  who  died  in 
1776-77.  He  married  (second)  March 
17,  1779,  Abiah  Stilson,  born  in  Newtown, 
Connecticut,  in  1751,  died  October  27, 
1793,  in  New  Milford,  Connecticut.  She 
was  the  mother  of  Samuel  Treadwell. 

(VI)  Samuel  Treadwell  was  born  May 
5,  1788,  in  New  Milford,  Connecticut. 
He  followed  the  occupation  of  blacksmith, 
and  was  among  the  esteemed  citizens  of 
his  native  town.  On  December  23,  1810, 
he  married  Jane  Prime,  born  November 
11,  1782,  daughter  of  Asa  Prime,  who 
was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Milford. 
They  were  the  parents  of  a  son,  John 
Prime  Treadwell,  of  whom  further.  (See 
Prime  V). 

(VII)  John  Prime  Treadwell,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Jane  (Prime)  Treadwell,  was 
born  in  New  Milford,  Connecticut,  Octo- 
ber 6,  181 1.  He  was  twelve  years  of  age 
when  he  left  home  and  came  to  Norwalk, 
making  part  of  the  journey  on  foot  and 
helped  by  rides  with  drivers.  From  Nor- 
walk he  went  to  New  York  City  by  water, 
where  he  went  to  work  as  a  bell-boy  in 
the  old  Franklin  House.  He  soon  showed 
that  he  was  made  of  the  right  kind  of 
stuff,  and  won  the  confidence  of  his  em- 
ployers. He  was  promoted  from  one  po- 
sition to  another,  mastering  every  detail 
of  the  hotel  business  as  it  was  carried  on 
in  that  day.  His  honesty,  efficiency  and 
sound  judgment  so  appealed  to  the  own- 
ers of  the  Franklin  House  that  they  built 
the  hotel  which  for  many  years  was 
known  as  the  St.  Nicholas,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  giving  Mr.  Treadwell  an  op- 
portunity to  engage  in  the  hotel  business 
on  his  own  account.  He  first  formed  a 
partnership  with  a  man  named  Hays,  and 
under  the  firm  name,  Treadwell  &  Hays, 
they    opened    the    St.     Nicholas    Hotel. 


189 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


After  a  while  the  late  Captain  Acker,  of 
Brooklyn,  succeeded  Mr.  Hays  in  the 
partnership,  the  firm  name  being  Tread- 
well  &  Acker.  Mr.  Acker  later  sold  his 
interest  to  a  Mr.  Whitcomb,  and  the 
firm  name  became  Treadwell,  Whitcomb 
&  Company.  During  all  these  years 
the  St.  Nicholas  held  a  high  place  in 
popular  esteem.  About  i860  Mr.  Tread- 
well  decided  to  retire  from  the  hotel 
business.  Going  back  to  his  native  town, 
he.  purchased  what  was  known  as  the 
Perry  Smith  property,  a  farm  of  some  two 
hundred  acres,  and  after  remodelling  the 
dwelling,  removed  his  family  to  their  new 
home  and  settled  down  to  the  life  of  a 
gentleman  farmer.  He  was  quiet  and  re- 
tiring in  his  disposition,  and  preferred  the 
pleasures  of  the  family  circle  to  all  other 
attractions. 

Mr.  Treadwell  married,  December  8, 
1841,  Mary  E.  Lockwood,  daughter  of 
Buckingham  St.  John  Lockwood,  a 
descendant  of  Robert  Lockwood.  Of 
their  children  three  grew  up:  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, now  deceased;  Julia  Abigail,  mar- 
ried Mortimer  McRoberts,  of  Chicago, 
now  deceased ;  and  John  Prime  (2) 
Treadwell. 

(VIII)  John  Prime  (2)  Treadwell,  son 
of  John  Prime  (1)  and  Mary  E.  (Lock- 
wood)  Treadwell,  was  born  August  17, 
1854,  in  New  York  City.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  New  Bedford,  being  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  then  be- 
came a  clerk  in  the  Fairfield  National 
Bank  of  Norwalk.  After  two  or  three 
years  Mr.  Treadwell  returned  to  New 
Milford,  his  father  having  died,  and  he 
assumed  the  responsibilities  of  the  home- 
stead with  his  sisters  and  mother,  the 
latter  at  that  time  being  an  invalid.  In 
addition  to  carrying  on  the  farm  and  look- 
ing after  other  interests  connected  with 
the  estate,  Mr.  Treadwell  put  roads 
through  part  of  the  farm,  which  was  in 


the  northern  part  of  the  village,  thus 
opening  up  a  number  of  fine  building  lots. 
In  1883  Mr.  Treadwell  returned  to  Nor- 
walk and  became  teller  in  the  institution 
of  which  he  is  now  president.  Beginning 
in  the  teller's  cage,  he  was  promoted  suc- 
cessively to  assistant  cashier,  vice-presi- 
dent, and  president,  succeeding  the  late 
Congressman  Hill  as  chief  executive  of 
the  bank  upon  the  death  of  the  latter 
about  two  years  ago. 

Mr.  Treadwell  was  a  director  for  many 
years  of  the  old  Danbury  &  Norwalk 
Railroad  before  it  was  absorbed  by  the 
New  York,  New  Haven  &  Hartford  Rail- 
road ;  was  a  director  of  the  Norwalk  Gas 
Company,  and  the  Norwalk  Street  Rail- 
way Company,  both  of  which  were  ab- 
sorbed by  larger  organizations.  Mr. 
Treadwell  is  now  a  director  of  the  Fairfield 
County  Savings  Bank,  the  New  Milford 
Water  Company,  and  of  the  Norwalk 
Public  Library  ;  also  treasurer  of  the  Nor- 
walk Historical  and  Memorial  Library 
Association.  Mr.  Treadwell  affiliates 
with  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  6,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  was  treas- 
urer for  many  years ;  Butler  Chapter,  No. 
38,  Royal  Arch  Masons ;  Clinton  Com- 
mandery,  No.  3,  Knights  Templar;  Our 
Brother's  Lodge,  No.  10,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Norwalk  Club,  Norwalk  Country  Club 
and  the  Roxbury  Club. 

Mr.  Treadwell  married,  October  12, 
1880,  Millicent  Clarissa  Booth,  daughter 
of  Charles  Herd  and  Millicent  (Cross) 
Booth,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
children:  1.  John  Prime  (3),  born  Au- 
gust 16,  1881,  now  comptroller  of  the 
American  Bank  Note  Company  of  New 
York  City,  and  resides  at  Mount  Vernon, 
New  York ;  he  married  Mabel  S.  Carter, 
of  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  have 
two  children:  John  Prime  (4),  and  Car- 
ter.   2.  Henry  Resseguie,  born  December 

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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


3,  1884,  now  manager  of  the  American 
Bank  Note  Company,  who  also  resides 
in  Mt.  Vernon,  New  York;  he  married 
Hilda  M.  Goldsmith,  of  New  York  City, 
and  they  have  two  children :  Elizabeth 
Lunt,  and  Barbara  Booth. 

(The  Prime  Line). 

Two  brothers,  James  and  Mark  Prime, 
were  natives  of  Doncaster,  Yorkshire, 
England.  In  order  to  escape  the  persecu- 
tions of  King  Charles  I.  they  came  to 
America.  There  Mark  Prime  settled,  in 
Rowley,  Massachusetts,  and  James  Prime 
settled  in  Milford,  Connecticut,  in  1644. 
James  Prime  died  in  1685.  He  had  a  son, 
James  (2)  Prime. 

(II)  James  (2)  Prime  was  a  large  land- 
holder. He  was  an  original  proprietor 
of  New  Milford,  through  purchase,  in 
1702.  Tradition  claims  he  lived  to  the 
great  age  of  one  hundred  and  three  years. 
His  wife's  name  was  Sarah,  and  she  died 
August  20,  1721.  They  were  the  parents 
of  a  son,  James  (3). 

(III)  Deacon  James  (3)  Prime  pur- 
chased his  father's  rights  in  New  Milford, 
and  removed  there  in  1716  with  his  wife 
Anna.  They  lived  in  what  was  known  as 
Park  Lane.  Their  eldest  son  was  Wil- 
liam. 

(IV)  William  Prime  was  married  Oc- 
tober 31,  1739,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Henry  Garlick,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  Asa  Prime. 

(V)  Asa  Prime  was  born  July  17,  1753. 
He  married,  June  25,  1777,  Phebe  Res- 
seguie.  Their  daughter  Jane  became  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Treadwell.  (See  Tread- 
well  VI). 

(The  Lockwood  Line). 

(I)  Robert  Lockwood  came  about  1630 
from  England  and  settled  at  Watertown, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  made  a  freeman 
March  9,  1636-37,  and  removed  in  1646 
to  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  where  he  died 


in  1658.  On  May  20,  1652,  he  was  made  a 
freeman  in  Fairfield.  His  wife,  whose 
Christian  name  was  Susannah,  died  De- 
cember 23,  1660,  in  Greenwich,  Connecti- 
cut. 

(II)  Ephraim  Lockwood,  son  of  Rob- 
ert and  Susannah  Lockwood,  was  born 
December  1,  1641,  in  Watertown,  and  re- 
moved to  Connecticut  with  his  father.  He 
married,  June  8,  1664,  Mercy  St.  John, 
daughter  of  Matthias  St.  John,  of  Nor- 
walk.  He  was  made  a  freeman  in  Octo- 
ber, 1667.  They  were  the  parents  of  a 
son,  Eliphalet  Lockwood. 

(III)  Deacon  Eliphalet  Lockwood,  son 
of  Ephraim  and  Mercy  (St.  John)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  February  27,  1675-76,  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  died  October 
14,  1753.  He  married,  October  11,  1699, 
Mary  Gold,  born  about  1673,  daughter  of 
John  Gold.  She  died  March  6,  1761. 
They  were  the  parents  of  a  son,  Peter 
Lockwood. 

(IV)  Peter  Lockwood,  son  of  Deacon 
Eliphalet  (1)  and  Mary  (Gold)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  March  16,  1710-11,  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and  died  in  1775, 
at  Danbury,  Connecticut.  He  served  as 
representative  from  Norwalk  in  six  differ- 
ent sessions  between  1755  and  1764.  He 
married  (first)  September  8,  1737,  Abigail 
Hawley,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Hawley,  of  Ridgefield,  who  died  June  6, 
1749.  They  were  the  parents  of  Eliphalet 
(2)  Lockwood. 

(V)  Captain  Eliphalet  (2)  Lockwood, 
son  of  Peter  and  Abigail  (Hawley)  Lock- 
wood,  was  born  October  17,  1741,  in  Nor- 
walk. He  enlisted  in  the  First  Company, 
Colonel  Charles  Webb's  Seventh  Con- 
necticut regiment,  July  12,  1775.  He  rep- 
resented Norwalk  seven  times  in  the  Leg- 
islature. On  January  8,  1766,  he  married 
Susannah  St.  John,  daughter  of  Joseph 
St.  John.  They  were  the  parents  of  Buck- 
ingham St.  John  Lockwood. 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(VI)  Colonel  Buckingham  St.  John 
Lockwood,  son  of  Captain  Eliphalet  (2) 
and  Susannah  (St.  John)  Lockwood, 
was  born  December  23,  1774,  and  died 
February  10,  1850.  He  married,  February 
17,  1808,  Polly  Esther  St.  John,  born 
March  10,  1783,  died  October  20,  1850, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Esther 
(Belden)  St.  John.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  Mary  Esther  Lockwood. 

(VII)  Mary  Esther  Lockwood,  daugh- 
ter of  Colonel  Buckingham  St.  John  and 
Polly  Esther  (St.  John)  Lockwood,  was 
born  September  25,  1815,  in  Norwalk, 
Connecticut,  and  died  May  11,  1880,  in 
Xew  Milford.  She  became  the  wife  of 
John  Prime  (1)  Treadwell.  (See  Tread- 
well  VII). 


JUDD,  William  Hawley, 

Man  of  Enterprise. 

The  Judd  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in 
New  England,  and  has  been  identified 
with  Connecticut  since  1636,  when  the 
immigrant  ancestor  of  the  family  came 
to  Hartford  with  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker. 
From  that  time  to  the  present  the  family 
has  been  prominent  in  the  commercial, 
industrial,  social  and  political  life  of  the 
State.  In  every  time  of  national  peril 
this  family  has  borne  its  share  of  the  com- 
mon burden.  William  H.  Judd,  of  Stam- 
ford, is  a  worthy  representative  of  those 
sturdy,  right-thinking,  right-living  ances- 
tors who  helped  to  give  New  England  its 
present  and  beneficent  influence  on  the 
life  of  this  country. 

The  name  of  Judd  is  among  the  oldest 
of  English  surnames.  We  find  Henry 
Judde  recorded  in  the  Hundred  Rolls. 
No  doubt  he  was  from  France,  where  the 
name  Jude  was  common.  It  is  derived 
from  Judah.  meaning  praise,  the  name 
given  by  Jacob  to  his  fourth  son,  who 
was  the  founder  of  the  greatest  and  most 
populous  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 


(I)  The  founder  of  this  family  was 
Deacon  Thomas  Judd,  born  in  England 
in  1608,  and  who  settled  in  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts,  in  1633-34.  He  was 
granted  a  home  lot  there  in  1634,  located 
in  the  West  End  on  the  Watertown  road. 
He  was  granted  more  land  in  the  follow- 
ing year  and  on  May  25th  of  that  year  he 
was  admitted  a  freeman.  In  1636  he  re- 
moved to  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  had 
two  acres  for  a  home  lot.  This  was  lo- 
cated near  the  famous  "Charter  Oak."  He 
removed  to  Farmington  from  Hartford 
about  1644,  and  was  one  of  the  first  pro- 
prietors there.  He  was  a  prominent  man 
in  the  town,  his  home  being  situated  on 
the  main  street.  He  served  as  deputy  to 
the  General  Court  several  times,  and  was 
a  charter  member  of  the  church  in  Farm- 
ington, being  a  second  deacon  of  the 
church.  He  lived  to  be  eighty  years 
of  age,  and  died  November  12,  1688.  The 
death  of  his  first  wife  occurred  in  Farm- 
ington, and  he  married  (second)  Clem- 
ence,  widow  of  Thomas  Mason  of  North- 
ampton, and  lived  in  that  town  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  There  he  was 
selectman  in  1682,  and  held  a  prominent 
place  in  the  social  and  political  life  of  the 
town. 

(II)  Philip  Judd.  son  of  Thomas  Judd, 
was  born  in  1649,  and  baptized  September 
2nd  of  that  year.  He  lived  in  Farming- 
ton  until  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
when  he  removed  to  Waterbury,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  died  in  October,  1689. 
His  wife  was  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Loomis  of  Windsor. 

(III)  Philip  (2)  Judd.  son  of  Philip 
(1)  and  Hannah  Judd.  was  born  in  1673, 
and  died  between  1760  and  1765.  With 
his  wife,  Lydia,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
church  in  1760.  With  his  brothers,  Philip 
Judd  removed  to  Danbury  previous  to 
1720,  but  the  records  of  this  town  were 
totally  destroyed  by  the  British,  and  for 


192 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


this   reason   it   is   very   difficult  to   trace 
members  of  the  family. 

(IV)  Samuel  Judd,  son  of  Philip  and 
Lydia  Judd,  lived  for  some  years  in 
Bethel  Society.  He  married  Hannah 
Knapp,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  a 
son,  Samuel  Judd,  Jr.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  church  in  1760. 

(V)  Samuel  Judd,  Jr.,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Hannah  (Knapp)  Judd,  was  born 
1743-44,  and  lived  for  some  years  in  Corn- 
wall, where  he  is  believed  to  have  died. 
He  married  Lucy  Hawley,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  Benjamin  Judd,  mentioned 
below. 

(VI)  Benjamin  Judd,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Lucy  (Hawley)  Judd,  was  born  in 
1769,  and  married  Zilpha  Williams,  of 
Bethel,  June  13,  1790,  and  she  died  April 
15,  1819.  He  died  March  6,  1826.  Their 
son,  Hawley  Judd,  is  next  in  line. 

(VII)  Hawley  Judd,  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Zilpha  (Williams)  Judd,  was  born 
September  13,  1797,  married  Eleanor  Ad- 
ams of  Redding,  December  31,  1818.  He 
removed  to  Pembroke,  New  York,  and 
from  there  to  Michigan.  He  was  the  fa- 
ther of  Grant  Judd,  of  further  mention. 

(VIII)  Grant  Judd,  son  of  Hawley 
and  Eleanor  (Adams)  Judd,  was  born 
June,  29,  1821,  in  Bethel,  Connecticut, 
and  in  1843,  removed  to  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  became  one  of  the  promi- 
nent men  of  the  place  and  was  identified 
with  the  early  business  there.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Phoenix  Car- 
riage Manufacturing  Company  of  Stam- 
ford, and  was  associated  with  this  com- 
pany until  its  dissolution.  He  was  a  very 
upright  man  and  of  excellent  character. 
He  died  January  3,  1892.  He  married, 
March  26,  1845,  Hannah  M.  Knapp,  born 
June  26,  1827,  daughter  of  Luther  and 
Hannah  (Selleck)  Knapp. 

(IX)  William    Hawley   Judd,    son    of 

Conn— 8— 13 


Grant  and  Hannah  M.  (Knapp)  Judd, 
and  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born 
at  Stamford,  Connecticut,  February  10, 
1850,  and  received  his  education  there 
in  private  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  entered  upon  his  business  career  with 
St.  John  &  Hoyt,  dealers  in  lumber.  He 
had  been  pursuing  a  course  in  civil  en- 
gineering, when  he  was  offered  a  position 
by  Mr.  John  St.  John,  to  open  the  books 
for  the  new  company  they  were  going 
to  organize.  He  was  also  to  collect  out- 
standing accounts  due  to  the  old  firm  of 
Fox  &  St.  John.  That  was  in  1868,  and 
Mr.  Judd  accepted  the  position,  and  has 
been  identified  with  the  business  to  the 
present  time  (1920).  Originally,  the 
business  occupied  a  small  space  on  Broad 
street  which,  in  1873,  was  removed  to  its 
present  location,  and  in  1879  Mr.  Judd 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  St.  John, 
Hoyt  &  Company.  In  1885,  the  business 
was  divided,  the  manufacturing  branch 
being  incorporated  under  the  name  of  The 
St.  John  Woodworking  Company,  of 
which  Mr.  Judd  became  secretary  and 
treasurer  and  has  continued  in  that  office 
to  the  present  time  (1920).  When  Mr. 
St.  John  retired  in  1888,  his  interest  was 
purchased  by  Charles  H.  Getman,  of  Os- 
wego, New  York,  and  the  firm  name 
became  Hoyt,  Getman  &  Judd.  Upon 
the  death  of  Mr.  Hoyt,  the  name  of  the 
firm  was  changed  to  Getman  &  Judd.  In 
April,  1897,  Mr.  Frank  W.  Bogardus  was 
admitted  to  the  firm,  and  the  name  again 
changed  to  Getman,  Judd  &  Company. 
Mr.  Getman  died  in  1898  and  upon  the 
settlement  of  his  estate,  the  business  was 
incorporated  as  The  Getman  &  Judd 
Company,  with  Mr.  Judd  as  president, 
which  office  he  holds  at  the  present  time 
(1920).  The  business  covers  about  seven 
acres  of  land,  and  they  ship  to  all  points 
in  New  England  and  New  York,  being 
one  of  the  largest  lumber  firms  in  New 


193 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


England.  Through  all  the  changes  in  the 
business  Mr.  Judd  has  been  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  forward  progress  of  the  com- 
pany. He  has  other  business  interests  of 
an  exacting  nature,  but  his  long  associ- 
ation with  this  concern  has  given  him  the 
foremost  position  there.  He  is  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  St.  John  Wood 
Working  Company ;  secretary,  treasurer 
and  director  of  the  East  Branch  Dock 
Corporation ;  director  of  The  Stamford 
Trust  Company ;  vice-president  of  The 
Stamford  Hospital ;  director  of  the  Manu- 
facturers' Association  of  Stamford,  and  of 
the  Woodland  Cemetery  Association ;  di- 
rector of  the  Stamford  Savings  Bank,  the 
Stamford  Morris  Plan  Company,  the 
Pennsylvania  Lumber  Mutual  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company,  The  Lumber  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company  of  Boston ;  delegate 
of  the  Eastern  States  Retail  Lumber  Deal- 
ers' Association  and  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Connecticut  Lumber  Dealers' 
Association ;  is  trustee  and  vice-president 
of  the  Stamford  Children's  Home,  and  a 
director  of  the  King  School ;  director  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Stamford ;  vice-president  of  The  Apart- 
ments Company  of  Stamford. 

Mr.  Judd  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  is  deeply  interested  in  civic  affairs. 
While  a  busy  man  he  is  ever  at  the  serv- 
ice of  the  public,  but  seeks  no  political 
preferment.  He  was  a  burgess  of  Stam- 
ford under  the  borough  government.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Church  Club  of  Con- 
necticut, the  Suburban  Club  of  Stamford, 
and  the  Stamford  Yacht  Club.  Through 
his  maternal  ancestry,  he  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution. 

Mr.  Judd  married,  November  II,  1873, 
in  New  York  City,  Anna  Moores,  born 
April  3,  185 1,  daughter  of  Charles  W.  and 
Susan  (Mallory)  Moores.  They  are 
members    of    St.    Andrew's    Protestant 


Episcopal  Church  of  Stamford,  of  which 
Mr.  Judd  has  been  vestryman  and  senior 
warden  for  many  years. 

Personally,  Mr.  Judd  is  a  genial,  whole- 
souled  gentleman,  a  man  who  meets  busi- 
ness problems  with  the  full  power  of  a 
keen  mind  and  who  goes  out  to  his  relax- 
ation with  the  same  zest  and  spirit.  He 
is  one  of  those  men  who  make  Stamford 
a  city  of  homes  as  well  as  a  prosperous 
business  center. 


RITCH,  Silas  Davis, 

Public  Official. 

It  seems  particularly  fitting  to  find  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  early  Colonial 
families  occupying  a  position  of  public 
trust  and  responsibility.  Silas  Davis 
Ritch,  tax  collector  of  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Connecticut,  is  the  scion  of  one  of 
the  oldest  families  of  Fairfield  county. 
Mr.  Ritch  was  born  April  11,  1859,  in 
Greenwich,  son  of  William  M.  and  Sarah 
(Hamilton)  Ritch,  and  is  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  Henry  Ritch. 

(I)  As  early  as  1681  there  is  record 
found  of  Henry  Ritch,  at  which  time  he 
bought  land  in  Sanford,  Connecticut,  of 
one  Caleb  Webb.  He  sold  this  land  in 
1685  and  removed  to  Greenwich,  Connec- 
ticut. There  on  May  19,  1686,  he  was 
granted  three  acres  of  land,  and  there  he 
died  about  1710.  He  married  (first)  Oc- 
tober 21,  1680,  Martha  Penoyer,  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  Penoyer.  He  married  (sec- 
ond)   . 

(II)  Thomas  Ritch,  son  of  Henry  and 
Martha      (Penoyer)     Ritch,     was     born 

about   1682.     He  married   Ruth  , 

and   they  were  the   parents   of  John,   of 
whom  further. 

(III)  John  Ritch,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Ruth  Ritch,  was  born  May  4,  1718.  He 
married,     February     17,     1741,     Jemima 


194 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Holmes,   and   they  were  the   parents   of 
James,  of  whom  further. 

(IV)  James  Ritch,  son  of  John  and 
Jemima  (Holmes)  Ritch,  was  born  June 
8,  1763.  He  married  (first)  Mary  Ann 
Lock  wood,  born  April  15,  1763,  and  (sec- 
ond) Mary  Whelpley,  born  October  18, 

1774- 

(V)  Ralph  Ritch,  son  of  James  Ritch, 
was  born  March  9,  1798,  and  died  De- 
cember 28,  1846.  He  married,  December 
5,  1819,  Clemence  Mead,  born  December 
25>  x797»  died  March  27,  1867,  daughter 
of  Matthew  and  Mercy  (Hobby)  Mead. 

(VI)  William  M.  Ritch,  son  of  Ralph 
and  Clemence  (Mead)  Ritch,  was  born 
June  1,  1820,  and  died  in  1909.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education,  and 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter.  It  was  not  many 
years  after  completing  his  apprenticeship 
that  he  was  able  to  enter  into  business 
on  his  own  account,  which  proves  that  he 
was  possessed  of  more  than  the  ordinary 
ability.  He  was  a  shrewd  business  man 
and  realized  the  possibilities  in  the  trans- 
portation trade  between  New  York  and 
Greenwich.  He  purchased  a  schooner, 
called  the  "Mariner,"  and  engaged  in  the 
business  of  carrying  stone  between  New 
York  and  Greenwich.  Not  satisfied  with 
attaining  this  business,  he  sought  a  higher 
goal  and  purchased  a  quarry,  eventually 
employing  three  schooners  to  carry  the 
stone.  Mr.  Ritch  was  very  successful  in 
his  business,  and  was  able  to  retire  from 
active  duties  many  years  before  his  death. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his 
community  and  held  in  high  respect.  He 
married  Sarah  Hamilton,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  she  died  August  7,  1888.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children :  George 
deceased  ;  Esta  ;  Willis ;  Elizabeth,  de- 
ceased ;  and  Silas  Davis,  who  receives 
extended  mention  below.  Mr.  Ritch  was 
originally  a   Democrat,  but  in   1862   be- 


came a  Republican.  He  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Relief  and  also  as 
assessor.  For  many  years  he  attended  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

(VII)  Silas  Davis  Ritch,  son  of  Wil- 
liam M.  and  Sarah  (Hamilton)  Ritch,  was 
born  April  11,  1859,  *n  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut. He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  the  Chappaqua  school,  a  Quaker 
boarding  school,  and  at  Professor  Smith's 
private  school  in  Portchester,  New 
York.  Mr.  Ritch  then  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  under  the  preceptorship  of 
of  Dr.  Stanton  Hall,  of  Portchester, 
and  then  matriculated  in  the  New  York 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College.  Not  find- 
ing the  practice  of  medicine  congenial, 
Mr.  Ritch  was  sensible  enough  to  discon- 
tinue it,  realizing  that  to  make  a  success 
in  any  chosen  trade  or  profession  there 
must  first  be  the  desire  to  follow  such 
a  business.  Mr.  Ritch  accordingly  be- 
came associated  with  his  father  in  the 
stone  quarrying  business.  In  1895,  when 
the  latter  desired  to  retire  from  business, 
Silas  D.  Ritch,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  Willis  Ritch,  purchased  the  busi- 
ness from  their  father  and  formed  a  part- 
nership under  the  firm  name  of  Ritch 
Brothers.  In  1912,  they  also  retired  from 
this  occupation  and  sold  their  interests 
in  1918  to  the  town  of  Greenwich  and  the 
spot  will  be  used  for  park  purposes.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Ritch  is  a  Republican,  and 
for  ten  years  ably  served  as  selectman  of 
Greenwich,  1900  to  1910.  In  the  latter 
year  he  was  elected  tax  collector,  which 
office  he  holds  at  the  present  time  (1920). 
Fraternally,  Mr.  Ritch  is  a  member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
in  Portchester,  and  of  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  of  East  Portchester. 

Mr.  Ritch  married,  December  2,  1885, 
Ida  F.  Mead,  born  June  12,  i860,  daugh- 
ter of  Lyman  and  Rebecca  Mead,  and  a 
direct  descendant  of  William  Mead,  one 


IQS 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  the  early  settlers  of  Fairfield  county. 
Their  children  are :  Norman  S.,  born  Jan- 
uary 21,  1891,  married  Lillian  Lyon; 
Esther,  born  June  27,  1894,  the  wife  of 
George  S.  Noyes.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  March  13,  1901. 


RITCH,  Thomas  Gardiner, 

Lawyer,    Honored   Citiien. 

Not  one  of  Mr.  Ritch's  surviving  fel- 
low-citizens needs  to  be  informed  that  the 
name  which  stands  at  the  head  of  this 
article  is  that  of  one  who  for  many  years 
was  numbered  among  the  leading  resi- 
dents of  beautiful  Stamford. 

His  father,  Timothy  Wells  Rossiter 
Ritch,  son  of  Thomas  and  Rachel  (Wal- 
lace) Ritch,  was  born  February  19,  1807, 
in  North  Salem,  Westchester  county,  New 
York,  and  attended  the  North  Salem 
Academy.  When  only  fourteen,  the  boy 
started  to  earn  his  living  in  New  York. 
He  had  only  his  stage  fare,  and  a  Spanish 
dollar  on  which  he  cut  the  words,  "My 
mother,"  and  which  is  still  in  possession 
of  his  family.  He  found  a  place  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  house  of  Lockwood  & 
Foshay.  Such  a  position  was  different  in 
those  days  from  the  present  time.  He 
was  required  to  open  the  store  at  six  in 
the  morning,  wait  on  people  all  day,  close 
the  store  about  ten  at  night,  and  then 
sleep  in  the  building.  Wages  at  first  were 
board  and  clothing.  A  counterfeit  bill  of 
five  dollars,  taken  in  one  day,  had  to  be 
made  good.  He  began  at  once  to  make  a 
study  of  counterfeit  money,  and  soon  be- 
came an  expert  in  detecting  it.  At  twen- 
ty-one, he  was  received  as  partner  in  the 
firm  under  the  name  of  Lockwood,  Ritch 
&  Company.  The  store  was  at  No.  61 
Vesey  street,  and  the  house  in  which  he 
lived  No.  281  Washington  street.  In  1831 
he  married  Sarah  Ann  Barnum,  of  North 
Salem.     In  1835  his  health  failed,  and  he 


moved  to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  buying 
the  stone  house  on  Main  street,  once 
owned  by  George  A.  Hoyt.  His  father- 
in-law  came  to  Stamford  at  the  same  time, 
building  on  Atlantic  street  a  house  which 
remained  in  possession  of  the  family  until 
1910. 

In  1854  Mr.  Ritch  represented  his  town 
in  the  State  Legislature,  with  John 
Clason,  and  again  in  1861,  with  I.  S. 
Jones.  His  strong  common  sense,  quick- 
ness of  intellect,  and  practical  knowledge, 
made  him  a  valuable  member  of  the  com- 
mittees on  which  he  served.  In  1855  he 
was  elected  first  selectman  and  served  for 
thirteen  years.  In  1862  he  was  elected 
town  treasurer,  and  reelected,  except  one 
year,  until  1877.  During  the  war,  he  was 
untiring  in  his  efforts  to  fill  the  quota  of 
soldiers  assigned  to  the  town.  He  visited 
Bridgeport  almost  daily  and  secured 
every  man  who  offered  at  a  moderate 
sum,  so  that  the  quota  would  be  filled 
or  nearly  so  when  an  order  for  a  draft 
came,  thus  saving  the  town  thousands  of 
dollars.  His  quiet  foresight  and  energy 
gave  to  Stamford  a  name  for  loyalty  sec- 
ond to  none  in  the  State.  No  face  was 
more  familiar  in  the  houses  of  the  sol- 
diers' widows  and  orphans  than  his.  In 
their  troubles  they  came  to  him  and  re- 
ceived counsel  and  aid.  When  Thanks- 
giving came,  year  after  year,  it  was  the 
old  First  Selectman  of  Stamford  who 
carried  them  their  Thanksgiving  dinners. 

He  was  an  incorporator  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Stamford,  and  a  director 
until  his  death,  and  for  two  years  its  act- 
ing president.  He  was  an  incorporator 
of  the  Citizens'  Savings  Bank  in  1869, 
and  its  president  until  death ;  also  an  in- 
corporator and  director  of  the  Woodland 
Cemetery  Association,  and  president  of 
the  Gas  Company  from  1875  until  death. 
As  to  his  church  relations,  while  in  New 
York,  he  and  his  family  attended  the  old 


196 


J 


+* 


Jm 


t^T^z. 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Brick  Church,  Presbyterian,  of  which  Dr. 
Gardiner  Spring  was  pastor.  Coming  to 
Stamford,  he  was  active  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church  .until  1853,  when  the  Pres- 
byterian church  was  organized.  He  was 
clerk  and  treasurer  from  the  beginning, 
and  a  member  of  the  building  committee. 
He  served  as  trustee,  deacon,  and  elder, 
being  ruling  elder  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  became  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school 
the  day  it  was  organized  and  continued 
until  his  last  illness.  He  died  April  25, 
1887. 

The  Revolutionary  ancestors  of  Thomas 
Gardiner  Ritch  were:  John  (or  Lewis) 
and  Mary  (Hyatt)  Ritch,  of  Norwalk; 
Samuel  and  Rachel  (Morehouse)  Wal- 
lace, of  North  Salem  and  Ridgefield ;  Dr. 
Samuel  and  Martha  (Schofield)  Barnum, 
of  North  Salem ;  Ananias  and  Sally 
(Brown)  Weed,  of  North  Stamford,  all 
helping  to  win  the  war. 

John  Ritch  was  living  in  Norwalk  when 
war  broke  out.  His  house  was  burned  by 
the  British.  He  took  part  in  the  battle 
on  Long  Island,  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
died  in  a  sugar  house  in  New  York.  Sam- 
uel Wallace  took  part  in  the  battle  at 
Ridgefield.  Dr.  Samuel  Barnum  served 
as  volunteer  surgeon  in  the  same  battle. 
Ananias  Weed  left  his  wife  and  baby  in 
their  new  house,  "Sky  Meadows,"  North 
Stamford,  and  served  in  Canada  through 
the  war,  being  the  first  man  to  enter  the 
gates  of  Montreal,  and  he  carried  a  bullet 
in  his  breast  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  wife,  Sally  (Brown)  Weed,  with  her 
gun  and  dog,  resisted  successfully  a  raid 
of  the  cow  boys.  Thomas  Barnum, 
grandfather  of  Dr.  Samuel  Barnum, 
served  in  King  Philip's  War,  and  received 
for  bravery  a  grant  of  land  in  Norwalk. 

Such  were  some  of  the  fighting  ances- 
tors of  Thomas  Gardiner  Ritch.  He  was 
born  September  18,  1833,  m  North  Salem, 
Westchester  county,  New  York,  and  was 


prepared  for  college  under  the  tutorship 
of  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Bar- 
num. In  1854  he  graduated  from  Yale  Uni- 
versity with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts,  and  then  entered  Yale  Law  School. 
After  graduating  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  New  York.  For  many  years  Mr. 
Ritch  practiced  with  notable  and,  without 
exaggeration,  splendid  success  in  New 
York,  always,  however,  retaining  his  resi- 
dence in  Stamford.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  the  oldest  commuter  be- 
tween Stamford  and  New  York. 

When  the  clouds  of  the  Civil  War 
darkened  the  sky,  and  the  call  to  arms 
rang  through  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  land,  Mr.  Ritch,  with  the  patriotic 
ardor  characteristic  of  his  family,  offered 
himself  for  enlistment,  but  was  rejected 
on  account  of  defective  vision.  This, 
however,  while  directing  his  efforts  into 
another  channel  did  not  in  the  least  di- 
minish their  energy,  and  throughout  the 
four  years  of  the  conflict  he  gave  to  the 
Union  cause  all  the  aid  and  encourage- 
ment which,  as  a  private  citizen,  he  was 
able  to  render.  All  his  life  he  was  earn- 
est in  promoting  the  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity. He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  and  served  as 
elder  until  his  death ;  also  for  years  as  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Ritch  married,  April  14,  1859, 
Maria  E.  Pratt,  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Maria  (Fowle)  Pratt,  of  Buffalo,  New 
York.  Mr.  Pratt  was  born  June  28,  1800, 
in  Westminster,  Vermont,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Buffalo.  At  the  age  of  thirty- 
five  he  was  elected  mayor  of  that  city, 
being  the  third  man  chosen  to  fill  the 
office.  He  died  in  1840.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ritch  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children :  Mary  Rossiter,  of  Stamford ; 
Alice  Maria,  died  July  13,  1893;  Charles 
Gardiner,  died  in  infancy ;  Helen  Weed, 
of  Stamford ;  John  Woodford,  died  in  in- 


197 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


fancy ;  Louise  Hopkins,  died  November 
14,  1894;  and  Edith  Prime,  died  June  26, 
1892.  Mrs.  Ritch  passed  away  April  10, 
1897. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Ritch,  which  occurred 
October  16,  1907,  deprived  the  legal  pro- 
fession of  one  of  its  most  honored  mem- 
bers and  took  from  Stamford  one  of  her 
most  public-spirited  citizens.  Many 
heart-felt  tributes  were  offered  to  his 
character  and  work.  Eminent  at  the  bar, 
and  honored  aand  beloved  in  private  life, 
Thomas  Gardiner  Ritch  has  left  a  record 
worthy  of  preservation  and  a  memory 
which  will  linger  long  in  the  hearts  of 
those  privileged  to  know  him. 


CARTER,  Galen  A., 

Attorncy-at-Law.   Councilman. 

Among  the  factors  of  civic  prosperity 
there  is  one  that  has  nothing  to  do  with 
the  carrying  on  of  trade  or  industrial  op- 
erations, yet  which  is  so  important  that 
without  its  presence  the  material  ad- 
vancement of  the  community  must  prove 
abortive,  and  which  is,  as  it  were,  the  cor- 
nerstone of  the  whole  arch  of  wholesome 
civic  life.  This  is  the  spirit  of  those  pro- 
gressive citizens  who  hold  the  interests  of 
their  community  at  heart,  while  having  a 
share  in  its  affairs  and  government — the 
spirit  of  loyalty  to  ideals  in  public  and 
professional  as  well  as  private  life. 
Among  the  citizens  of  Stamford  who  have 
exemplified  this  spirit  in  their  careers  is 
Galen  A.  Carter,  who  holds  a  prominent 
position,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Fessenden  &  Carter,  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Fessenden  in  1908,  and  then  senior  mem- 
ber of  a  new  firm,  still  doing  business 
under  the  same  firm  name,  until  Novem- 
ber, 1919,  when  Mr.  Carter  and  Mr.  War- 
ren F.  Cressy  formed  a  new  partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  Carter  &  Cressy, 
which  firms  for  many  years  have  held  a 


conspicuous  position  among  the  leaders 
of  the  bar  in  Connecticut.  Mr.  Carter 
has  stood  for  all  that  we  associate  with 
the  highest  traditions  of  the  American 
bar,  and  consistently  adhered  in  his  prac- 
tice to  the  best  standards  of  his  profes- 
sion. 

Galen  A.  Carter  is  a  member  of  a  family 
which  has  been  conspicuous  both  in  old 
and  New  England,  the  surname  being  a 
very  ancient  one.  It  appears  in  the  early 
Hundred  Rolls  and  belongs  to  that  great 
class  which  is  derived  from  occupations, 
the  original  meaning  in  this  case  being 
obvious.  In  America  that  branch  of  the 
family  from  which  Mr.  Carter  is  de- 
scended has  resided  in  New  York  City  for 
several  generations,  and  his  grandfather, 
Dr.  Galen  Carter,  a  native  of  Maine,  stud- 
ied medicine  in  Vergennes,  Vermont,  and 
was  a  prominent  physician  in  New  York 
many  years.  He  was  in  active  prac- 
tice in  New  York  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  which  occurred  at  his  home  in  the 
year  1870. 

One  of  his  children  was  the  Hon.  Galen 
A.  Carter,  Sr.,  father  of  the  Mr.  Carter 
of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  June  21,  1832,  and  passed  his  child- 
hood and  early  youth  there.  As  a  lad  he 
attended  educational  institutions  in  that 
city  and  obtained  a  splendid  education, 
being  eventually  graduated  from  the  Med- 
ical School  in  connection  with  Columbia 
College.  After  mature  consideration, 
however,  he  decided  to  follow  a  business 
career  instead  of  the  professional  one  his 
studies  had  opened  to  him,  and  accord- 
ingly became  connected  with  the  New 
York  Stock  Exchange,  and  was  admitted 
as  a  partner  in  the  celebrated  Wall  street 
concern  of  Jacob  Little  &  Company.  Mr. 
Carter  was  for  many  years  a  prominent 
figure  on  the  Stock  Exchange  until  his 
retirement  from  business  in  the  sixties. 
He  was  also   successfully   engaged  in   a 


198 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


mercantile  business  for  some  time.  After 
the  death  of  his  father,  Dr.  Carter,  in 
1870,  Mr.  Carter  removed  to  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  and  there  took  up  his  resi- 
dence, remaining  there  until  the  close  of 
his  life.  Although  he  did  not  engage  in 
business  after  removing  to  Stamford,  Mr. 
Carter  was  far  from  spending  his  time  in 
idleness,  turning  his  energies  to  excellent 
account  in  the  service  of  his  adopted 
community.  He  took  a  decidedly  active 
part  in  public  affairs,  and  held  many  of- 
fices in  the  gift  of  the  city,  among  them 
being  that  of  burgess  of  the  borough  of 
Stamford.  In  1874  he  was  the  successful 
candidate  of  the  Democratic  party  for  the 
office  of  State  Senator  from  the  Fairfield 
county  district,  and  in  that  office  proved 
himself  a  most  capable  and  disinterested 
public  servant.  Indeed  all  his  public  life 
was  marked  by  a  large  degree  of  that  pro- 
gressive spirit  that  has  made  Stamford  a 
city  of  importance  in  the  commonwealth 
of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Carter  was  a  man  of 
strong  social  instincts,  and  was  a  member 
of  several  organizations  of  a  fraternal  and 
social  character.  He  was  affiliated  with 
the  Chi  Phi  fraternity  while  yet  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Medical  School  at  Columbia 
University,  and  in  Stamford  was  one  of 
the  most  prominent  and  influential  mem- 
bers of  the  Suburban  Club. 

Mr.  Carter  married,  November  9,  1853, 
Mary  C.  Davenport,  born  November  9, 
1836,  and  died  August  11,  1891,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Theodore  and  Harriet  (Chesbor- 
ough)  Davenport,  old  and  highly  re- 
spected residents  of  Stamford,  and  a 
member  of  a  prominent  Connecticut  fam- 
ily. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carter  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  1.  Edward  B. 
L.,  born  December  13,  1855;  educated  at 
St.  John's  Episcopal  School,  Stamford, 
and  then  served  as  a  deputy  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  State  treasurer  in  Hartford 
for  four  years,  under  James  D.  Smith,  of 


Stamford ;  he  then  took  up  the  business 
of  accounting,  at  a  time  when  trained  ac- 
countants were  comparatively  few,  and 
became  an  expert  in  his  line ;  he  did 
a  considerable  business  in  auditing  and 
other  accounting  work  for  banks  and 
other  large  corporations ;  a  Republican  in 
politics,  he  took  a  great  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs ;  he  was  a  man  of  strong  re- 
ligious beliefs,  and  was  for  many  years  a 
member  of  St.  Andrew's  Episcopal. 
Church,  of  Stamford,  supporting  liberally 
the  work  of  the  parish  and  serving  the 
church  in  the  office  of  vestryman  and  war- 
den ;  he  married  Anna  S.  Sanford,  of 
Stamford,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
one  of  whom,  Edna  S.  Carter,  survives; 
his  death  occurred  December  13,  1918.  2. 
Galen  A.,  with  whose  career  we  are 
here  especially  concerned.  3.  Theodora, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  F.  Treacy, 
of  the  firm  of  Davenport  &  Treacy,  of 
Stamford,  manufacturers  of  pianofortes. 
Galen  A.  Carter,  son  of  Galen  A.,  Sr., 
and  Mary  C.  (Davenport)  Carter,  was 
born  November  23,  1857,  in  New  York 
City,  and  passed  the  first  twelve  years  of 
his  life  in  that  city.  When  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  his  parents  came  to  Stamford 
to  live  and  since  that  time  his  life  has 
been  associated  with  this  flourishing  com- 
munity. For  some  time  he  attended  St. 
John's  Episcopal  School,  but  later  re- 
turned temporarily 'to  New  York  for  a 
course  in  Packard's  Business  College  and 
was  graduated  from  the  latter  institution 
with  the  class  of  1875.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  strong  intellectual  tastes,  and  to 
his  temperament  a  legal  career  made  a 
strong  appeal.  Accordingly,  on  January 
1,  1876,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Fer- 
ris &  Fessenden  as  a  student  and  there 
pursued  his  chosen  subject  to  such  good 
purpose  that  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Connecticut  in  Bridgeport,  1880.  For 
seven   years   he   practiced   law   with   the 


199 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF   BIOGRAPHY 


firm  of  Ferris  &  Fessenden,  and  then,  in 
1887,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Ferris,  he 
formed  a  legal  partnership  with  his  old 
chief,  Samuel  Fessenden,  and  the  firm  of 
Fessenden  &  Carter  was  formed.  In  1895 
Homer  S.  Cummings  was  admitted  into 
the  firm  and  the  name  became  Fessenden, 
Carter  &  Cummings.  Five  years  later, 
however,  Mr.  Cummings  withdrew  and 
the  old  name  was  resumed.  The  death  of 
Mr.  Fessenden  in  1908  caused  a  reorgan- 
ization of  the  old  concern,  and  the  present 
partners  formed  a  new  firm  under  the 
style  of  Fessenden  &  Carter,  which  was 
retained  up  to  November,  1919.  This 
concern  has  been  for  more  than  a  gen- 
eration one  of  the  leading  law  firms  of 
Fairfield  county,  and  much  of  the  most 
important  litigation  of  the  region  has 
passed  through  its  office.  In  addition  to 
his  private  practice,  Mr.  Carter  has  served 
the  community  in  a  number  of  legal  ca- 
pacities and  brought  to  that  service  his 
great  powers  and  professional  knowledge. 
In  the  year  1883,  when  the  City  Court  of 
Stamford  was  organized,  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  prosecuting  attorney, 
and  two  years  later  became  prosecuting 
attorney.  In  the  year  intervening,  1884, 
he  was  also  appointed  assistant  State  at- 
torney, holding  the  double  office  until 
1913,  when  he  resigned  the  former,  and 
has  since  continued  in  the  latter  capacity. 
During  this  period  Mr.  Carter  has  enjoyed 
a  great  and  growing  reputation,  and  now 
occupies  a  conspicuous  place  among  the 
leaders  of  the  Connecticut  bar.  His  abil- 
ity and  high  sense  of  professional  ethics 
are  acknowledged  by  all,  not  only  among 
his  colleagues  of  the  bar  but  by  the  com- 
munity-at-large.  He  is  a  man  of  strong 
character  and  magnetic  personality, 
whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  know,  keen-eyed 
and  firm-lipped,  a  man  of  power  and  en- 
ergy, and  withal  one  who  appreciates  the 
wholesomeness  of  the  outdoor  world  and 


makes  it  a  large  part  of  his  interest  in 
life.  He  is,  like  his  father,  possessed  of 
strong  social  instincts  and  feelings,  and 
is  a  member  of  Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
Stamford ;  the  Suburban  Club,  of  Stam- 
ford ;  the  Stamford  Yacht  Club ;  the  East 
Side  Rod  and  Gun  Club ;  and  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is 
keenly  interested  in  matters  of  art,  es- 
pecially in  connection  with  encouraging 
dramatic  art  of  the  highest  type,  and  is 
a  director  of  the  Stamford  Theatre. 

Galen  A.  Carter  was  united  in  marriage, 
April  12,  1888,  with  Anna  G.  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  William  D.  and  Esther  M. 
(Smith)  Smith  of  Stamford.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carter  one  child  has  been  born,  Ken- 
neth W.  Carter,  born  January  23,  1889. 
Kenneth  W.  Carter  was  educated  at  a 
private  schol  in  Stamford,  and  upon  com- 
pleting his  studies  there  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  J.  D.  Smith  &  Company,  a 
brokerage  firm  of  New  York  City;  later 
he  became  an  electrician  in  the  employ  of 
the  Fire  Department  of  Stamford ;  at  the 
time  of  the  entrance  of  the  United  States 
into  the  great  European  conflict,  he  en- 
listed in  the  National  army  and  was  sent 
with  the  90th  Division,  American  Expe- 
ditionary Forces,  to  France ;  he  was  in 
Germany  with  the  United  States  forces  of 
occupation,  detailed  to  that  country  until 
June,  1919,  and  has  since  returned  and  is 
now  engaged  in  banking. 

Galen  A.  Carter  has  been  noted  espe- 
cially throughout  the  State  for  the  care- 
ful manner  in  which  it  is  his  custom 
to  draw  complaints  in  criminal  actions. 
He  is  also  exceedingly  careful  in  prepar- 
ing his  civil  pleadings.  None  of  the  minor 
details,  which  are  so  often  overlooked, 
escape  his  attention  in  the  preparation  of 
a  case.  In  court,  his  ability  to  group  the 
points  in  a  case  in  a  telling  manner  is 
striking,  but  he  never  indulges  in  flowery 


200 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


rhetoric,  confining  himself  strictly  to  the 
points  at  issue  and  pressing  these  in  such 
a  logical  and  forceful  manner  as  to  carry 
conviction  that  his  conclusions  are  cor- 
rect. One  unique  characteristic  of  his 
policy  is  that  he  uniformly  refuses  to  dis- 
cuss his  cases  with  the  newspapers. 

Mr.  Carter  has  always  been  active  in 
political  work,  but  with  no  thought  of  pre- 
ferment for  himself,  although  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council  of  the 
city  of  Stamford  for  two  terms.  His  in- 
terest is  that  of  a  public-spirited  citizen 
who  considers  it  the  duty  of  every  man 
to  take  an  active  part  in  governmental  af- 
fairs within  the  compass  of  his  abilities. 
He  has  ever  been  a  staunch  Democrat, 
and  in  1896,  when  the  party  became  di- 
vided over  the  so  called  "Free  Silver" 
issue,  Mr.  Carter  exerted  himself  to  the 
utmost  to  hold  it  together  at  least  on 
local  issues,  leaving  its  members  free  to 
follow  their  convictions  regarding  the 
question  of  the  free  coinage  of  silver.  Mr. 
Carter  is  esteemed  by  his  fellow-citizens 
as  a  man  of  broad  views  and  sympathies, 
who  has  always  been  ready  to  aid  every 
improvement  that  promises  to  enhance 
the  public  welfare. 


SMITH,  William  Deming, 

Merchant,  Useful  Citizen. 

Among  the  most  useful  men  in  the  early 
colonies  were  the  Smiths,  who  made  all 
the  nails  used  in  the  construction  of 
buildings  and  nearly  every  implement  of 
every  sort  employed  in  the  rude  life  of 
the  pioneers.  A  century  previous,  the 
country  people  in  England  had  taken 
surnames,  and  it  fell  out  that  many  who 
were  smiths  by  occupation  took  the  word 
for  a  patronymic,  and  in  this  manner  the 
name  of  Smith  has  been  derived.  In  1662 
there  were  three  brothers  bearing  this 
name  who  came  to  New  England.    One  of 


these  settled  in  New  London,  one  in 
Windsor,  and  the  third,  Simon  Smith,  set- 
tled in  Haddam,  Connecticut.  It  is  from 
the  latter  immigrant  that  most  of  the 
Middlesex  county  families  are  descended. 

Jeremiah  G.  Smith,  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Anna  G.  (Smith)  Carter,  was  a  native  of 
Chatham,  Connecticut,  and  was  a  cele- 
brated sea  captain  of  the  early  days,  as 
many  of  his  ancestors  had  been.  He 
crossed  the  ocean  several  times;  in  1851 
he  came  to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  where 
he  died.  He  married  Annah  G.  Hurd,  of 
Chatham. 

William  D.  Smith,  son  of  Jeremiah  G. 
and  Annah  G.  (Hurd)  Smith,  was  born 
in  Chatham,  Connecticut,  February  17, 
1837.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Middle  Haddam  and  Stamford.  In  his 
youth  he  felt  the  inherited  desire  for  a 
seafaring  life,  and  at  the  time  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  had  already  crossed 
the  ocean.  For  thirteen  years  he  contin- 
ued to  follow  the  sea  and  rose  to  be  cap- 
tain of  a  boat  in  1865.  In  the  latter  year 
he  came  to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  and 
purchased  the  business  of  Hoyt  &  Pond, 
a  coal  and  wood  yard  at  Waterside.  He 
continued  in  this  business  until  1900,  in 
which  year  he  disposed  of  his  business  in- 
terests intending  to  retire  from  active 
cares.  But  Mr.  Smith  was  not  the  type 
of  man  who  could  be  happy  in  idleness, 
and  a  few  years  later  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Citizens'  Savings  Bank, 
of  Stamford,  an  institution  of  which  he 
had  long  been  a  director.  In  this  office 
his  business  experience  and  good  judg- 
ment proved  of  great  value ;  he  also 
served  as  a  director  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  of  Stamford,  and  of  the  Woodland 
Cemetery  Association. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  served  for  several  years  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Burgesses  of  the  borough, 
and  also  served   several  terms  as  coun- 


201 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


cilman  in  the  early  days  of  the  city  gov- 
ernment. On  one  occasion  Mr.  Smith  was 
nominated  without  his  consent,  and  al- 
though he  had  announced  that  he  would 
refuse  to  be  a  candidate  his  name  was  re- 
tained upon  the  ticket  and  he  was  elected 
to  office.  He  refused  to  accept  the  office, 
however,  being  a  man  of  his  word.  He 
refused  numerous  requests  to  become  a 
candidate  of  his  party  for  the  Legislature 
and  other  offices.  He  preferred  to  do  his 
share  in  the  role  of  a  private  citizen,  and 
was  ever  willing  to  aid  in  any  welfare 
movement  for  the  benefit  of  the  public. 
"It  was  said  he  never  made  an  enemy  but 
all  who  knew  him  were  his  friends.  He 
was  kind  hearted  and  generous,  always 
courteous  in  his  business  relations."  Mr. 
Smith  was  remarkably  well  informed  on 
all  the  current  topics  of  the  day,  and  in 
spite  of  his  advanced  years  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  in  possession  of  all  his 
faculties.  Quiet  and  unostentatious  in 
his  manner,  he  was  domestic  in  his  tastes 
and  was  happiest  when  surrounded  by  his 
family  at  his  own  fireside.  His  charities 
were  many,  and  they  were  given  in  such 
a  quiet,  plain  way  that  few,  except  those 
who  benefited  directly,  knew  of  his  good- 
ness. 

Mr.  Smith  married  Esther  M.  Smith, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  two  daugh- 
ters :  Susan  W.,  deceased ;  and  Anna  G., 
wife  of  Hon.  Galen  A.  Carter,  of  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut. 


BARTRAM,  Fioyd  Bell, 

Lawyer,  Public  Official. 

The  Bartram  patronymic  is  of  ancient 
English  origin,  and  is  traced  to  the  reign 
of  King  Henry  I.  It  is  derived  from  the 
baptismal  name  of  Bertram.  There  was 
a  William  Bartram  who  founded  the  pri- 
ory of  Brinkburne,  in  Northumberland 
county,   England.     The   Bartram   family, 


of  which   Floyd   B.   Bartram   is  a   scion, 
descends  from  John  Bartram. 

(I)  John  Bartram  came  from  England 
and  settled  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Col- 
ony, thence  removing  to  Stratford,  in 
1668.  He  died  in  Stratford,  in  1676.  He 
had  a  son.  John  (2),  of  whom  further. 

(II)  John  (2)  Bartram,  son  of  John  (1) 
Bartram,  was  born  about  1665,  and  lived 
in  Stratford.  Early  in  life  he  removed 
to  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  and  was  made  a 
freeman  there,  March  18,  1690.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Gray,  daughter  of  Jacob  Gray, 
and  their  son,  David,  is  mentioned  below. 

(III)  David  Bartram,  son  of  John  (2) 
and  Sarah  (Gray)  Bartram,  was  born  De- 
cember 13,  1702.  He  was  the  pioneer  of 
the  family  in  Redding,  Connecticut,  where 
he  lived  as  early  as  1733.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  a  surveyor,  and  lived  in  that 
part  of  Redding  which  was  called  Lone- 
town.  The  Christian  name  of  his  wife 
was  Mehitable,  and  their  son,  James,  is  of 
further  mention. 

(IV)  James  Bartram,  son  of  David  and 
Mehitable  Bartram,  was  born  April  23, 
1738.  He  lived  in  Redding,  and  served  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  His  wife  was 
Hannah  Morehouse,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  twenty-one  children,  ten  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  among  them, 
Aaron,  of  whom  further. 

(V)  Aaron  Bartram,  son  of  James  and 
Hannah  (Morehouse)  Bartram,  was  born 
about  1784,  in  Redding,  where  he  lived 
during  his  lifetime,  and  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  shoemaker.  He  had  a  son, 
Aaron  (2),  of  whom  further. 

(VI)  Aaron  (2)  Bartram,  son  of  Aaron 
(1)  Bartram,  was  a  shoemaker,  as  was  his 
father.  He  was  born  June  28,  1827,  in 
Redding,  and  died  in  i860.  Aaron  (2) 
Bartram  is  buried  at  Zion  Hill  Cemetery, 
Wilton,  Connecticut.  On  May  28.  1851, 
he  married  Delia  A.  Gregory,  daughter  of 
Elijah  and  Orpha  (Godfrey)  Gregory,  of 


202 


lie  American  Historical  Society 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Weston.  Mrs.  Bartram  was  born  June 
16,  1827.  They  had  a  son,  Elijah,  of 
whom  further. 

(VII)  Elijah  Gregory  Bartram,  son  of 
Aaron  (2)  and  Delia  A.  (Gregory)  Bar- 
tram, was  born  in  Redding,  May  23,  1855. 
The  public  schools  afforded  him  his  edu- 
cation, and  after  the  death  of  his  father 
he  came  to  New  Canaan,  where  he  went 
to  work  in  a  saw  mill.  Mr.  Bartram  was 
connected  with  this  industry  during  the 
rest  of  his  lifetime,  being  superintendent 
for  many  years.  About  191 5  he  retired 
from  active  business,  and  built  his  present 
home  in  the  Tallmadge  Hill  section.  He 
married  Sarah  A.  Bell,  born  September 
26,  1859,  daughter  of  Harmon  and  Mary 
Amelia  (Scofield)  Bell.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bartram  were  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: Clayton  Gregory,  of  Southport; 
Floyd  Bell,  of  further  mention ;  and  Stan- 
ley Bronson,  of  New  Canaan.  The  fam- 
ily are  attendants  of  the  Congregational 
church. 

(VIII)  Floyd  Bell  Bartram,  second 
child  of  Elijah  G.  and  Sarah  A.  (Bell) 
Bartram,  was  born  in  Darien,  Connecti- 
cut, September  3,  1882.  He  attended  the 
Tallmadge  Hill  School,  and  the  schools 
of  New  Canaan,  and  for  two  years  was  a 
student  in  Moody's  school,  at  Mount  Her- 
mon,  Massachusetts,  working  to  meet  the 
expense  of  his  tuition  in  this  institution. 
After  two  years  of  special  work  in  Col- 
gate University,  where  he  worked  to  pay 
his  own  way,  he  studied  law  in  the  New 
York  Law  School,  whence  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  in  June, 
1908.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  July,  1909, 
he  was  for  a  year  associated  with  Judge 
Martin  J.  Gray,  of  Stamford,  Judge  Gray's 
death  ending  this  relation.  Mr.  Bartram 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Benja- 
min H.  Mead,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bartram  &  Mead,  and  so  has  continued  to 


the  present  time  in  the  general  practice 
of  law.  Stanley  Mead  was  admitted  to 
the  firm  in  1917.  They  have  many  cor- 
porations and  prominent  citizens  of  Stam- 
ford and  its  vicinity  among  their  clients, 
and  the  firm  has  assumed  a  place  among 
the  best  known  legal  firms  of  the  district. 
Mr.  Bartram  is  a  director  and  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Title  Insurance  and  Mortgage 
Company,  of  Stamford  and  Greenwich, 
and  a  director  of  numerous  other  corpor- 
ations for  which  his  firm  is  counsel. 

He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith,  and 
in  1918  and  1920  was  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  the  office  of  mayor  of  Stamford. 
In  the  latter  year,  when  a  Republican 
•landslide  carried  even  Democratic  strong- 
holds, Mr.  Bartram  ran  about  twenty-five 
hundred  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket.  He 
has  always  been  active  in  public  affairs, 
and  in  Stamford  is  known  as  the  cham- 
pion of  clean,  progressive  government, 
respected  for  his  able  defence  of  his  con- 
victions. Since  October,  1919,  he  has 
been  president  of  the  Stamford  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  Inc.,  and  during  his  term 
of  office  the  membership  has  increased 
from  about  one  hundred  seventy-five  to 
over  five  hundred  members. 

Mr.  Bartram  is  a  member  of  the  New 
Canaan  Congregational  Church.  He  fra- 
ternizes with  the  Masonic  order,  being  a 
member  of  Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons ;  and  with  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Lodge 
No.  899;  and  is  a  member  of  the  Subur- 
ban Club.  He  is  a  lover  of  outdoor  sports, 
especially  fishing  and  golf. 

Floyd  B.  Bartram  was  married  March 
J7»  I9I3>  to  Frieda  Hohnstrater,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Meta  (Schaar)  Hohn- 
strater, of  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  William, 
born  August  24,  1914. 
203 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


BELL,  Clarence  Winthrop, 

Banker,  Man  of  Affairs. 

The  Bell  family  have  long  been  honor- 
ably represented  in  the  annals  of  Fair- 
field county,  and  particularly  in  the  city 
of  Stamford.  In  the  professions  and  in 
the  public  service,  members  of  this  family 
are  found  in  foremost  places.  Each  gen- 
eration has  succeeded  in  establishing  a 
record  that  is  an  inspiration  to  the  com- 
ing generations.  Since  1641,  in  which 
year  Francis  Bell,  the  immigrant  ances- 
tor, settled  in  Stamford,  there  has  been  a 
Bell  in  a  representative  position  in  the 
public  life  of  the  city.  Francis  Bell  was 
the  first  representative  from  Stamford  to 
the  General  Assembly,  and  his  descend- 
ant, Thaddeus  Bell,  held  a  like  honor  as 
first  representative  to  the  Legislature 
from  the  town  of  Darien.  His  grand- 
father, Thaddeus  Bell,  was  representative 
from  Stamford  also.  The  Bell  family  is 
now  ably  represented  by  Clarence  W. 
Bell,  banker,  of  Stamford,  who  was  born 
June  5,  1869,  in  Darien,  son  of  Thaddeus 
(3)  and  Caroline  E.  (Morehouse)  Bell. 

(I)  Francis  Bell,  the  immigrant,  a  na- 
tive of  Yorkshire,  England,  came  with  Sir 
Richard  Saltonstall,  to  Massachusetts  in 
1630.  He  located  in  Stamford  in  1641, 
being  one  of  the  original  twenty-nine  pro- 
prietors. Stamford  was  purchased  from 
the  New  Haven  Colony,  and  was  first 
called  by  the  Indian  name,  Rippowam. 
Francis  Bell  received  a  grant  of  seven 
acres,  and  was  prominent  in  affairs  from 
the  outset.  He  was  representative,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1641,  the  first  to  serve  in  the 
community,  and  was  lieutenant  of  the 
Militia  Company.  In  1644  he  was  chosen 
to  go  to  Boston  to  bring  back  a  minister, 
in  which  mission  he  was  successful,  and 
in  1670  was  in  charge  of  building  the  new 
meeting  house.     He  was  selectman  from 


1666  to   1671,  and  died  January  8,   1679. 
His  wife,  Rebecca,  died  May  17,  1684. 

(II)  Jonathan  Bell,  son  of  Francis  and 
Rebecca  Bell,  was  born  in  September, 
1641,  and  was  the  first  white  child  born 
in  Stamford.  He  served  as  selectman  for 
fourteen  years,  and  was  representative 
to  the  General  Court  for  twenty-six  years. 
In  1672  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant 
of  the  Militia  Company,  and  captain  in 
1698.  He  died  March  II,  1698-99.  He 
married  (first)  August  22,  1662,  Mercy 
Crane,  daughter  of  Jasper  Crane,  and  she 
died  October  26,  1671.  They  were  the 
parents  of  Jonathan  (2),  of  further  men- 
tion. 

(III)  Jonathan  (2)  Bell,  son  of  Jona 
than  (1)  and  Mercy  (Crane)  Bell,  was 
born  in  the  year  1663.  He  was  town 
clerk  from  1689  to  io99J  lieutenant  of  the 
Militia  Company  in  1692,  and  representa- 
tive from  1712-1719.  He  married  (first) 
March  22,  1693,  Grace  Ketchell,  who  died 
the  same  year. 

(IV)  Jonathan  (3)  Bell,  son  of  Jona- 
than (2)  and  Grace  (Ketchell)  Bell,  was 
born  December  15,  1693,  and  served  nine 
years  as  selectman.  He  was  ensign  and 
active  in  church  matters.  He  was  one  of 
the  number  forming  the  Middlesex  Soci- 
ety, and  sang  in  the  choir.  He  married, 
January  24,  1716,  Eunice  Reed,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Olmstead)  Reed, 
of  Norwalk,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
Thaddeus,  of  further  mention. 

(V)  Thaddeus  Bell,  son  of  Jonathan 
(3)  and  Eunice  (Reed)  Bell,  was  born 
March  31,  1728,  and  was  a  resident  of  Ox 
Ridge.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  served  in 
1775  on  a  committee  of  safety,  and  in 
1777  on  a  committee  to  care  for  the  fam- 
ilies of  soldiers  who  were  in  service.  On 
December  14,  1753,  he  married  Mary 
Leeds,  daughter  of  Cary  and  Martha 
(Holly)  Leeds. 


204 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(VI)  Thaddeus  (2)  Bell,  son  of  Thad- 
deus  (1)  and  Mary  (Leeds)  Bell,  was 
born  March  18,  1759,  and  died  October 
31,  1851.  He  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  with  the  rank  of  orderly  ser- 
geant, and  was  taken  prisoner  at  New 
York.  After  his  exchange  he  enlisted  a 
second  time.  He  was  representative  to 
the  Legislature  in  1805  and  served  for 
sixteen  consecutive  years.  He  was  one  of 
the  committee  to  set  off  the  eastern  part 
of  Stamford,  and  the  rest  of  the  commit- 
tee wished  to  name  it  Bellville,  but  Mr. 
Bell  declined  the  honor.  "He  was  on 
his  way  back  to  the  capital  when  he  met 
a  friend  who  had  just  returned  from  a 
visit  to  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  and  this 
gave  him  the  idea  which  resulted  in  the 
town  being  named  Darien."  The  follow- 
ing year  Mr.  Bell  represented  Darien  in 
the  Legislature.  He  married,  May  4, 
1780,  Elizabeth  How,  daughter  of  James 
and  Sarah  (Waring)  How,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  Holly,  of  further  mention. 

(VII)  Holly  Bell,  son  of  Thaddeus  (2) 
and  Elizabeth  (How)  Bell,  was  born  in 
Darien,  where  he  died,  in  1887.  He  served 
as  representative  for  five  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  was  station  agent  at 
Darien  for  a  number  of  years.  Previous 
to  the  building  of  the  railroad,  Holly  Bell 
ran  a  sloop  to  New  York  City.  He  mar- 
ried Abigail  Scofield,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  Thaddeus  (3)  Bell,  of  further 
mention. 

(VIII)  Thaddeus  (3)  Bell,  son  of  Holly 
and  Abigail  (Scofield)  Bell,  was  born 
January  20,  183 1,  in  Darien,  and  died  in 
1909.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools,  and  his  early  life  was 
identified  with  the  ship-building  industry. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  was  commis- 
sioned as  acting  paymaster  on  a  United 
States  monitor,  and  after  the  war  re- 
sumed his  ship-building  business  in  Nor- 
walk.      For    many    years    he    was    town 


treasurer,  and  also  served  as  town  clerk 
until  shortly  before  his  death.  Among 
other  public  offices  which  he  held  were 
selectman,  and  representative  in  the  Leg- 
islature. Mr.  Bell  was  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  Darien  and  of  Fairfield  county. 
The  success  which  he  achieved  was  not 
an  accident,  but  the  result  of  constant 
achievement  and  application  of  effort. 

Mr.  Bell  married,  in  1854,  Caroline  E. 
Morehouse,  born  January  5,  1833,  daugh- 
ter of  H.  and  Lydia  (Mather)  Morehouse, 
a  descendant  of  Rev.  Dr.  Moses  and  Rev. 
Richard  Mather,  and  of  the  immigrant, 
John  Mather.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Grace  L. ;  Alfred  B.,  who  resides  in  Den- 
ver, Colorado ;  and  Clarence  W.,  of  fur- 
ther mention.  The  family  were  members 
of  the  Congregational  church,  which  Mr. 
Bell  served  as  treasurer. 

(IX)  Clarence  W.  Bell,  son  of  Thad- 
deus (3)  and  Caroline  E.  (Morehouse) 
Bell,  attended  the  schools  of  Darien  and 
the  Norwalk  High  School.  Subsequent 
to  his  graduation,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Stamford 
as  messenger.  The  worthy  qualities  of 
his  forebears  seemed  to  have  been  im- 
bibed in  his  character,  and  he  steadily 
progressed  upward  through  the  various 
positions  until  he  held  the  position  of 
vice-president  and  cashier,  and  was  also 
a  member  of  the  board  of  directors.  He 
continues  in  this  office,  and  in  July,  1919, 
was  active  in  effecting  the  consolidation 
of  the  Stamford  National  Bank  with  the 
First  National  Bank,  under  the  title  of 
the  First-Stamford  National  Bank.  He 
is  also  a  director  of  the  Home  Bank  and 
Trust  Company,  of  Darien ;  director  and 
treasurer  of  the  Western  Connecticut 
Title  and  Trust  Company,  of  Stamford ; 
was  president  of  the  Stollwerck  Choco- 
late Company,  of  Stamford,  during  the 
World  War,  when  the  company  was  un- 


205 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


der  the  control  of  the  alien  property  cus-     spelled  Chamberlin,  Chamberlayne,  Cham- 


todian. 

Mr.  Bell  has  been  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Finance  of  the  town  of  Darien 
for  ten  years.  It  seems  very  just  and 
fitting  that  a  member  of  this  old  and  dis- 
tinguished family,  whose  antecedents 
were  leaders  in  the  growth  of  the  com- 
munity, should  occupy  these  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility  in  this  generation. 
The  fraternal  orders  of  Mr.  Bell  are : 
Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons ;  Suburban  Club ;  Woodway 
Country  Club ;  and  Wee  Burn  Golf  Club, 
of  Stamford. 

Mr.  Bell  married,  June  6,  1900,  Louise 
Austen,  daughter  of  Theodore  W.  Austen, 
of  Darien,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  a 
son,  Roger  Winthrop  Bell,  born  January 
20,  1905.  The  family  attend  the  Congre- 
gational church  at  Darien. 


CHAMBERLAIN,  Robert  Linton, 

Real  Estate  Promoter,  Banker. 

In  the  banking  circles  of  Greenwich, 
Mr.  Chamberlain,  as  president  of  the 
Putnam  Trust  Company,  occupies  a  fore- 
most place,  and  as  president  of  the  Green- 
wich Real  Estate  Company  he  has  been 
a  factor  of  importance  in  the  develop- 
ment of  one  of  the  city's  leading  inter- 
ests. In  the  fraternal  and  social  circles 
of  his  home  community  he  has  long  been 
a  figure  of  prominence. 

The  Chamberlain  family  derives  de- 
scent from  Count  de  Tankerville,  of 
Tankerville  Castle,  Normandy,  who  ac- 
companied William  the  Conqueror  to 
England.  John,  son  of  Count  de  Tanker- 
ville, was  Lord  Chamberlain  to  Henry 
the  First  of  England.  Richard,  son  of 
John,  filled  the  same  place  under  King 
Stephen,  and  the  word  descriptive  of  his 
office  became  the  family  name.  That 
name    has    been    and    still    is    variously 


berlaine  and  Chamberlain.     The  escutch- 
eon of  the  family  is  as  follows : 

Arms — First  and  Fourth:  Gules,  an  escutcheon 
argent,  in  an  orle  of  eight  mullets  or.  Second  and 
Third :  Gules,  a  chevron  between  three  escallops 
or. 

Crest — An  ass's  head  out  of  a  ducal  coronet. 

Mottoes — Mors  potior  stat  macula.  Prodesse 
quavt  conspice.     Virtute  nihil  murium. 

Early  in  the  seventeenth  century  a 
branch  of  the  family  was  transplanted 
to  Massachusetts  by  Richard  Chamber- 
lin, others  of  the  name  and  their  descend- 
ants finding  homes  in  other  colonies. 
Representatives  of  the  family  have  long 
been  resident  in  Pennsylvania. 

Robert  Linton  Chamberlain  was  born 
September  15,  1871,  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  son  of  Robert  Linton,  Sr.,  and 
Ellen  Steele  (Perkins)  Chamberlain,  the 
former  a  native  of  Allentown,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Robert  Linton  Chamberlain,  Jr., 
was  educated  at  the  Knapp  School  in 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  up  to  a  certain 
point,  going  then  to  Santa  Barbara,  Cal- 
ifornia, where  he  attended  the  Belmont 
School.  He  then  returned  to  the  East 
and  for  a  time  lived  in  Mamaroneck,  New 
York. 

About  twenty  years  ago  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain became  a  resident  of  Greenwich, 
Connecticut,  establishing  himself  there  in 
the  real  estate  business.  He  was  very 
successful,  developing  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Putnam  Terrace  property,  having 
previously  organized  the  Greenwich  Real 
Estate  Company,  of  which  he  became 
president.  This  concern  developed  not 
only  the  Putnam  Terrace  property,  but 
also  several  other  important  tracts.  In 
1914  Mr.  Chamberlain  enlarged  his  field 
of  action  by  identifying  himself  with  the 
banking  interests  of  Greenwich.  In  as- 
sociation with  others  he  organized  the 
Putnam    Trust    Company,    an    enterprise 


206 


^Sw  ^ 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


which  prospered  from  the  start.     In  1916     1892,  Rose  I.  Brady,  daughter  of  John  F. 


Mr.  Chamberlain  succeeded  to  his  pres- 
ent office  of  president  of  the  institution, 
which  from  the  beginning  has  been 
largely  indebted  to  him  for  its  steadily 
increasing  prosperity. 

The  other  interests  of  Mr.  Chamberlain 
are  numerous.  He  is  secretary  of  the 
Greenwich  Highway  Commission  and  the 
Putnam  Cemetery  Association,  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  and  trustee  of  the  Diamond 
Hill  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is 
treasurer  of  the  Greenwich  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  a  trustee  of  the  Young  Wo- 
men's Christian  Association  of  Green- 
wich, and  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Greenwich  Social  Service  Society.  In  all 
matters  of  public  interest,  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain has  had  the  part  of  a  public-spirited, 
progressive  citizen.  Especially  was  this 
apparent  during  the  World  War,  when  in 
addition  to  his  support  of  the  work  of 
all  the  relief  and  social  organizations  he 
served  on  the  Greenwich  War  Bureau,  as 
chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Committee  of 
Greenwich,  and  as  chairman  of  the  in- 
struction committee  of  the  local  draft 
board.  To  the  exacting  duties  of  these 
positions  he  gave  largely  of  his  time  and 
effort. 

In  fraternal  circles,  Mr.  Chamberlain 
is  extremely  active.  He  affiliates  with 
Acacia  Lodge,  No.  85,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons ;  and  is  a  charter  member  of  Ar- 
mour Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of 
Port  Chester,  New  York.  He  also  holds 
membership  in  Bethlehem  Commandery, 
Knights  Templar,  of  Mount  Vernon,  New 
York;  Lafayette  Council,  of  Bridgeport; 
Mecca  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine,  New  York 
City ;  and  the  Indian  Harbor  Yacht  Club, 
of  Greenwich.  His  other  clubs  are  the 
Sound  Beach  Golf,  the  Riverside  Field 
and  Marine,  and  the  Coscob  Tennis. 

Mr.   Chamberlain   married,   in   August, 


and  Ann  Brady,  of  Mamaroneck,  New 
York,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  son, 
Robert  Linton  (3),  born  September  21, 
1893,  and  now  a  student  in  Storr's  Agri- 
cultural College.  Robert  Linton  (3) 
Chamberlain  served  seventeen  months  in 
the  United  States  army  during  the  World 
War,  enlisting  in  Squadron  A,  which  was 
a  part  of  the  27th  Division.  Nine  months 
of  his  enlistment  were  spent  in  the  Amer- 
ican Expeditionary  Forces,  and  he  saw  a 
large  share  of  the  stirring  action  of  this 
noted  division. 

To  the  honorable  title  of  a  useful  cit- 
izen, Mr.  Chamberlain  has  an  indisput- 
able claim,  for  he  has  been  largely  in- 
strumental in  the  upbuilding  of  a  num- 
ber of  the  most  essential  interests  of  his 
home  community. 


SHERRILL,  George, 

Physician,  Hospital  Official. 

Dr.  George  Sherrill  has  for  many  years 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  med- 
ical profession  in  Stamford.  He  was 
born  July  28,  1867,  in  Delhi,  Delaware 
county,  New  York,  son  of  George  (1) 
and  Kate  E.  (Telford)  Sherrill. 

The  name  of  Sherrill  is  one  of  the  old 
Saxon  names  in  England,  antedating  the 
Norman  Conquest  (1066).  Like  most 
ancient  names  it  was  spelled  in  various 
ways,  Sherwill,  Sherry  and  Sherill.  Ac- 
cording to  Harrison,  an  authority  on  the 
derivation  of  surnames,  it  signified  "a 
dweller  by  the  clear  spring."  It  is  formed 
of  the  word  "scir,"  meaning  clear  or  pure, 
and  Will,  originally  "willya,"  meaning 
spring  or  a  small  body  of  water.  It 
therefore  belongs  to  the  class  of  names 
derived  from  location.  The  family  is  an 
old  one  in  Devonshire,  and  was  prominent 
there.  Thomas  Sherwill  was  mayor  of 
Plymouth  in  1617-18,  and  in  1627-28,  and 


207 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


in  the  latter  year  also  represented  the  city 
in  Parliament.  He  died  during  his  term 
and  was  succeeded  as  mayor  by  his 
brother,  Nicholas. 

(I)  Samuel  Sherrill,  immigrant  an- 
cestor of  the  family  in  America,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  about  1649,  his  parents  with 
other  Devonshire  families  having  emi- 
grated there.  Most  of  the  immigrants, 
the  Sherrills  among  the  number,  not  find- 
ing the  new  country  satisfactory,  returned 
to  England.  According  to  an  old  family 
tradition :  "A  vessel  was  cast  away  on 
the  shore  at  Easthampton,  Long  Island, 
and  a  company  of  girls,  among  others, 
visited  the  wreck.  One  of  the  ladies  said 
on  returning  that  she  had  seen  the  hand- 
somest man  she  ever  saw.  This  was  in- 
timated to  the  shipwrecked  mariner  and 
resulted  in  an  acquaintance  and  marriage 
of  the  parties."  Samuel  Sherrill  is  the 
only  one  of  that  name  mentioned  in  the 
Easthampton  records  for  1683-1698. 
When  he  came  to  the  town  is  not  known, 
but  it  is  the  opinion  of  Charles  H.  Sher- 
rill, Jr.,  the  family  genealogist,  that  he 
arrived  in  Easthampton  between  1670 
and  1678.  On  the  tax  list  for  1683  his 
property  is  assessed  for  £102  6s  and  8d. 
Three  years  later  he  was  one  of  nine  who 
petitioned  the  governor  to  compel  the 
town  to  set  out  land  to  them.  It  seems 
that  the  freeholders  of  the  town  were  un- 
willing at  that  time  to  admit  any  more 
proprietors. 

(II)  Recompence  Sherrill,  son  of  Sam- 
uel Sherrill,  was  born  about  1678,  in  East- 
hampton, and  married,  October  1,  1713, 
for  his  second  wife,  Margaret  Cady.  He 
was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  town,  and 
was  a  member  of  Captain  Matthias  Bur- 
nett's company  of  the  town  militia  in 
1715.  On  April  5,  1719,  he  joined  the 
church. 

(III)  Jacob  Sherrill,  son  of  Recom- 
pence and  Margaret  (Cady)  Sherrill,  was 


born  in  1722,  and  died  in  July,  1801.  He 
married  for  his  second  wife,  Clemens 
Huntting,  born  February  8,  1738,  died 
August  8,  1820,  daughter  of  Deacon  John 
and  Clemens  Huntting.  The  name  of 
Jacob  Sherrill  appears  on  the  list  of  As- 
sociates of   Easthampton,   dated   May   5, 

1775- 

(IV)  Jonathan  Sherrill,  son  of  Jacob 
Sherrill,  was  born  in  Easthampton,  in 
October,  1769,  and  died  in  Greenville, 
New  York,  April  14,  1851,  where  he  had 
resided  for  almost  fifty  years.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1795,  Lavinia  Reed,  who  was  born 
August  5,  1775,  and  died  January  11,  1845. 

(V)  Lewis  Sherrill,  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Lavinia  (Reed)  Sherrill,  was  born 
July  24,  1801,  in  Easthampton,  and  died 
March  9,  1889.  He  married  Esther  Ford, 
born  March  21,  1801,  died  January  19, 
1872. 

(VI)  George  Sherrill,  son  of  Lewis  and 
Esther  (Ford)  Sherrill,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 2,  1830,  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  He  went  to  New  York  City 
to  work,  and  by  his  energy  and  ambition, 
combined  with  his  excellent  business 
judgment,  he  forged  his  way  ahead  until 
he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  operat- 
ing the  Knickerbocker  Mills.  Mr.  Sher- 
rill remained  identified  with  this  enter- 
prise in  an  executive  manner  until  his 
death.  He  married,  February  17,  1861, 
Kate  E.  Telford,  born  March  6,  1836,  died 
in  1910;  he  died  in  February,  1903.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sherrill  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children :  Etta,  born  April  6, 
1862,  deceased ;  Lizzie,  born  October  30, 
1864,  deceased;  George,  of  further  men- 
tion ;  Nelson,  born  June  23,  1872,  now  a 
resident  of  Orange,  New  Jersey. 

(VII)  George  (2)  Sherrill,  son  of 
George  (1)  and  Kate  E.  (Telford)  Sher- 
rill, attended  the  schools  of  Jersey  City 
and  the  Hasbrouck  Institute,  matriculat- 
ing  at   Williams   College,   graduating  in 


208 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


1888.  He  then  pursued  a  course  at  the 
Columbia  University  Medical  School,  fin- 
ishing in  1891.  For  the  subsequent  two 
years  Dr.  Sherrill  was  an  interne  in  the 
New  York  Hospital,  and  in  1894  removed 
to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  and  there  en- 
gaged in  practice.  For  just  a  quarter  of  a 
century  Dr.  Sherrill  has  been  located  in 
that  city,  and  for  twenty  years  he  has 
served  as  medical  examiner  of  the  city. 

Dr.  Sherrill  is  a  member  of  the  staff  of 
the  Stamford  Hospital,  and  also  of  the 
Stamford  Children's  Home.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Stamford  Medical  Society ;  the 
Fairfield  County  Medical  Society  ;  and  the 
Connecticut  State  Medical  Society.  His 
clubs  are :  The  Suburban  Club ;  the 
Woodway  Country  Club,  and  the  Stam- 
ford Yacht  Club.  ' 

Dr.  Sherrill  married,  November  5,  1896, 
Elvy  Perkins,  daughter  of  Henry  Per- 
kins, of  Stamford,  and  their  children  are : 
Catherine,  born  March  12,  1899;  George, 
Jr.,  born  September  26,  1902;  Russell, 
born  January  26,  1908. 


SPRINGER,  William  A., 

Musical  Composer,  Soldier. 

By  the  musical  world  the  appearance 
of  Mr.  Springer's  name  will  be  greeted 
with  the  reverence  and  admiration  which 
for  a  third  of  a  century  have  been  recog- 
nized as  his  just  tribute.  By  the  friends 
and  neighbors  of  his  home  community 
they  will  be  rendered  with  personal  pride 
in  their  distinguished  fellow-citizen  min- 
gled with  feelings  of  sincere  regard  and 
cordial  good  will. 

The  race  of  the  Springers  is  one  of  the 
most  ancient  in  Germany,  tracing  its  de- 
scent from  Charlemagne,  Emperor  of  the 
West,  and  thus  carrying  its  line  back 
through  thirteen  centuries  to  the  remoter 
regions  of  history. 

Louis   the   First,   Count  of  Thuringia, 

Conn— 8— 14  209 


was  a  descendant  of  Charlemagne  and  a 
relative  of  Conrad  the  Second,  Emperor 
of  Germany. 

Louis  the  Second,  son  of  Louis  the 
First,  was  born  in  1042,  and  was  Count  of 
Thuringia  and  builder  of  the  famous 
castle  of  the  Wartburg.  He  was  a  mili- 
tary officer  of  the  emperor,  Henry  the 
Fourth,  and  on  a  false  charge  was  wrong- 
fully imprisoned  in  the  old  castle  of 
Giebeckenstein,  near  Halle,  one  hundred 
feet  above  the  river  Saale.  In  1089,  after 
two  years  of  close  confinement,  he  made 
his  escape  by  springing  from  the  lofty 
battlements  of  the  castle  into  the  river. 
Coming  from  the  water  apparently  un- 
hurt, he  was  taken  before  the  emperor 
who,  surprised  at  his  courage,  pardoned 
him  and  gave  him  the  surname  of  the 
Springer.  From  this  fact  is  derived  the 
family  name.  His  descendants  are  found 
in  almost  every  country  of  Europe  and  in 
almost  every  State  of  the  American 
Union. 

The  escutcheon  of  the  Springers  is  as 
follows: 

Arms — To  the  first  and  fourth,  sable,  a  stag 
springing  forward,  countee  passant,  or,  sustained 
by  a  hill,  vert.  To  the  second  and  third,  argent, 
to  the  barry,  azure. 

Helmet — Crowned. 

Crest — Stag  issuing  from  between  two  wings 
expanded  and  conjoined,  cut  evenly  off.  Dexter 
of  sable  on  or,  sinister  of  argent  on  azure. 

Lambrequins — Conformed  to  the  colors  and  met- 
als on  the  escutcheon. 

Charles  Christopher  Springer,  the  first 
of  the  family  to  come  to  the  New  World, 
was  the  son  of  the  then  Swedish  ambas- 
sador to  Germany  and  emigrated  to  the 
colonies  about  1675,  settling  with  the 
company  of  Swedes  which  he  found  es- 
tablished at  what  is  now  Wilmington, 
Delaware. 

Tillinghast  Springer,  father  of  William 
A.  Springer,  was  for  years  a  well  known 
sea  captain.     He  was  also  a  violinist  and 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


singer,  and  it  was  from  him  that  his  son 
inherited  his  love  of  music.  Prior  to  the 
War  of  1812,  Captain  Springer  was  mas- 
ter of  one  of  a  line  of  packets  plying  be- 
tween the  Kennebec  river  and  New  Eng- 
land seaports,  and  when  the  vessel 
chanced  to  be  wind-bound  or  becalmed 
the  passengers  passed  many  an  hour 
dancing  on  the  quarter-deck  to  the  sweet 
strains  of  his  violin.  Captain  Springer 
married  . 

William  A.  Springer,  son  of  Tilling- 
hast  Springer,  was  born  in  Augusta, 
Maine.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  birthplace.  He  developed 
at  a  very  early  age  a  passionate  fondness 
for  music,  but  his  environment  was  such 
as  to  prevent  him  from  studying  the  art 
in  which  in  after  years  he  was  to  achieve 
international  distinction.  In  1857  Mr. 
Springer  went  to  Medway,  Massachu- 
setts, where  he  found  employment  in  a 
boot  factory.  During  the  winters  he  at- 
tended singing  schools,  becoming  quite 
proficient  as  a  reader  of  music.  In  1861 
the  first  original  expression  of  his  gen- 
ius was  called  forth  by  the  initial  tragedy 
of  the  Civil  War,  the  death  of  Colonel 
Ellsworth,  who  was  shot  by  General 
Jackson  at  the  Marshall  House,  Alexan- 
dria, Virginia.  Under  the  influence  of 
the  grief  and  indignation  inspired  by  the 
heartrending  event,  Mr.  Springer  com- 
posed a  quartette  entitled  "The  Memory 
of  Ellsworth." 

In  1862  Mr.  Springer  went  to  Franklin, 
where  he  took  lessons  of  Professor  Han- 
del Pond,  at  the  same  time  singing  in 
local  church  choirs.  In  1863  he  went  to 
Brookfield,  where  he  was  chorister  in  the 
choir  of  the  Unitarian  church.  In  1864 
he  enlisted  in  the  Forty-second  Regiment, 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Militia,  and 
proceeded  to  the  seat  of  war.  Service  in 
the  field,  however,  did  but  act  as  a  stim- 


ulus to  his  musical  genius,  and  while 
there  he  composed  a  quartette  which  was 
rendered  at  many  a  soldier's  grave  as  an 
expression  of  the  sorrow  of  his  surviving 
comrades. 

In  the  spring  of  1865  Mr.  Springer  went 
to  Marlboro,  where  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Union  Church  choir,  and  there, 
under  the  directorship  of  L.  S.  Brigham, 
continued  to  sing  for  a  number  of  years. 
Upon  Mr.  Brigham's  resignation  he  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  Springer,  who  held  the 
position  of  conductor  for  seven  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  resigned  and 
for  some  four  years  sang  in  the  choir  of 
the  Unitarian  church.  After  that,  he 
was  for  two  years  chorister  in  the  First 
Baptist  Church. 

During  all  these  years,  with  their  many 
changes,  Mr.  Springer  was  more  or  less 
engaged  in  writing  music,  his  composi- 
tions consisting  of  church  anthems,  church 
tunes,  memorial  hymns  and  secular  songs. 
Among  his  most  popular  works  is  his 
patriotic  allegory,  "The  Nation's  Strug- 
gle," depicting  the  four  years  of  the  Civil 
War.  The  presentation  of  this  work 
elicited  the  following  resolutions  from 
Post  No.  43,  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic: 

Headquarters, 
John  A.  Rawlins  Post  43,  G.  A.  R., 
Marlboro,  Mass.,  Feb.  3,  1885. 

At  the  regular  meeting  held  this  evening  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted : 

Whereas,  We  have  heard  so  many  words  of 
praise  for  the  entertainment  presented  by  the  com- 
mittee of  this  Post,  in  which  they  placed  upon  the 
stage  the  patriotic  allegory  written  by  Comrade 
W.  A.  Springer,  and  published  by  White,  Smith 
and  Company,  in  which  the  allegorical  and  real- 
istic scenes  of  the  great  struggle  which  saved  the 
nation  and  freed  the  slave  were  presented ;  there- 
fore 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  thanks  to  the  com- 
mittee and  to  those  who  so  ably  took  part  in  it, 
both  of  our  own  members  and  all  others,  and  we 
would  cordially  recommend  to  any  Post  that  de- 

10 


'AA. 


d  U: 


^ 


l-^ 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


sires  to  spend  a  pleasant  and  an  instructive  eve- 
ning to  procure  the  patriotic  allegory  as  published 
by  White,  Smith  and  Company,  as  covering  more 
features  of  interest  than  have  ever  been  presented 
before. 
Attest:  J.  W.  Barnes, 

Adjutant. 

The  crowning  effort  of  Mr.  Springer's 
genius  was  his  cantata,  "The  Night  of 
Wonders,  or  the  Birth  of  Christ."  This 
work  was  written  by  special  request  of 
the  publishers  and  presented  in  Marlboro 
in  1886.  A  revised  edition  was  presented 
in  1897  and  is  now  published  in  London, 
England.  Among  the  many  commenda- 
tions bestowed  upon  it  was  the  following 
from  the  Rev.  L.  B.  Goodrich,  of  Marl- 
boro, the  words  forming  part  of  a  letter 
addressed  to  Mr.  Springer: 

The  idea  is  good,  excellent;  the  music  bright 
and  pleasing  to  all.  Some  of  the  chorus  work  es- 
pecially so.  It  is  by  far  the  best  thing  of  the 
sort  to  which  I  have  ever  listened. 

Of  every  phase  of  the  career  of  William 
A.  Springer  the  art  he  has  so  devotedly 
worshipped  has  formed  a  part,  and  at 
every  period  of  his  life  he  has  made  it  a 
power  for  good.  As  a  soldier  he  caused  it 
to  pay  tribute  to  his  departed  comrades, 
and  to  cheer,  console  and  inspire  those 
who  were  still  contending  on  the  field. 
In  the  many  years  of  peace  which  have 
followed  he  has  made  it  a  means  of  min- 
istering to  and  uplifting  his  fellowmen 
and  of  strengthening  the  bond  of  friend- 
ship between  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

Mr.  Springer  married  Eliza  Augusta 
Winter,  a  native  of  Farmingdale,  Maine. 
Winter  is  one  of  the  season  names  and 
has  been  used  from  a  very  early  period. 
Two  families  bearing  the  name  were 
planted  in  New  England  during  the  sev- 
enteenth century.  One  was  of  English 
origin  and  the  other  German.  In  the  case 
of   the   latter   the    name   was   translated. 


Mr.  Springer  and  his  wife  were  the  par- 
ents of  a  son :  Frederick  A.,  a  sketch  of 
whom  follows. 


SPRINGER,  Frederick  A., 

Textile  Manufacturer. 

Trained  in  textile  lines  in  a  famous 
technical  institution  of  his  native  New 
England,  Mr.  Springer  has  confined  his 
industrial  connections  to  New  England 
enterprises,  with  the  exception  of  a  short 
time  spent  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
and  is  now  an  official  of  the  Mianus  Man- 
ufacturing Company.  Son  of  William  A. 
and  Eliza  Augusta  (Winter)  Springer,  he 
was  born  in  Marlboro,  Massachusetts, 
January  14,  1866. 

He  received  his  early  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town.  He  then  took 
a  special  course  in  textile  designing  at  the 
Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology. 
Mr.  Springer's  first  position  was  in  the 
designing  department  of  the  Sanford 
Mills,  Sanford,  Maine,  where  he  remained 
a  little  over  a  year.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  opened  a  designing  stu- 
dio, but  after  fifteen  months  returned  to 
Sanford,  and  for  about  ten  years  was  in 
charge  of  the  designing  department  of 
the  mills.  Their  exhibit  of  textiles,  de- 
signed by  Mr.  Springer,  was  awarded  a 
gold  medal  at  the  Chicago  World's  Fair. 
In  February,  1895,  Mr.  Springer  moved 
to  North  Mianus,  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Connecticut,  and  associated  himself 
with  the  Mianus  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  since  1897  has  held  the  offices 
of  treasurer  and  general  manager.  They 
manufacture  plush  carriage  robes,  imi- 
tation fur  fabrics,  cloaking  materials,  and 
overcoatings.  Their  trade  is  largely  do- 
mestic, but  includes  some  exportation  to 
Canada,  and  their  products  are  sold  di- 
rectly  to  the   cutting-up   trade   and   also 


211 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


through  various  agencies.  The  number 
of  their  employees  averages  about  three 
hundred. 

Among  the  other  business  interests  of 
Mr.  Springer  is  a  directorship  in  the 
Greenwich  Trust  Company.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Greenwich  and  Stamford 
Chambers  of  Commerce,  and  was  for- 
merly president  of  the  Protective  Tariff 
League  of  Sanford,  which  had  at  that 
time  about  two  hundred  members.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  the  first 
secretary  of  the  Sanford  Loan  and  Build- 
ing Association.  At  the  present  time  he 
is  one  of  the  managers  of  the  American 
Protective  Tariff  League  of  New  York, 
also  holding  the  office  of  manager  for 
Connecticut. 

Politically,  Mr.  Springer  is  a  staunch 
Republican,  and  has  long  taken  a  fore- 
most part  in  local  affairs,  as  appears  in 
his  active  association  with  tariff  interests. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  Town 
Committee  of  Greenwich,  and  also  serves 
as  chairman  of  the  Greenwich  School 
Committee.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Bruce 
Museum  of  Greenwich.  During  the  war 
he  belonged  to  the  Greenwich  Council  of 
Defense,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  Lib- 
erty Loan  drives  and  other  activities  of 
that  stirring  time.  The  fraternal  asso- 
ciations of  Mr.  Springer  include  affilia- 
tions with  the  Masonic  order,  first  in 
connection  with  Preble  Lodge,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Sanford,  and  later 
with  Acacia  Lodge,  No.  85,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  of  Greenwich.  He  also 
affiliates  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  of  Stamford.  He  holds  the  of- 
fice of  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Stamford. 

Mr.  Springer  married  (first)  Carrie  E. 
Bennett,  who  died  in  1897.  She  was  the 
mother  of  Beatrice  Springer,  a  trained 
nurse,  of  Hartford,  Connecticut ;  and  Nel- 
son Frederick  Springer,  who  is  associated 


with  his  father  in  business.  Mr.  Springer 
married  (second)  Caroline  E.  Finney,  in 
1898,  daughter  of  Lorenzo  and  Caroline 
C.  (Jessup)  Finney,  of  North  Mianus,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Carolyn  Finney 
Springer. 

The  position  of  Mr.  Springer,  both  as 
manufacturer  and  citizen,  has  been  for 
years  that  of  an  acknowledged  leader. 
The  testimony  of  the  business  world,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  friends  and  neighbors 
of  his  home  community,  would  show  that 
his  leadership  has  always  been  a  force  in 
the  promotion  of  true  progress  and  en- 
during prosperity. 


GETMAN,  Frederick  H., 

Noted  Scientist  and  Author. 

Frederick  H.  Getman,  a  prominent  and 
highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, an  authority  on  the  Solvay  the- 
ory of  solution,  which  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  develop,  and  a  chemist  and  a 
scientist  of  international  standing,  is  a 
member  of  an  old  New  York  State  family 
that  has  resided  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Stone  Arabia,  Montgomery  county,  for 
many  generations.  He  is  descended  from 
John  Frederick  Getman,  who  founded  the 
family  in  that  region,  and  from  whom  the 
line  of  descent  runs  through  his  son 
George  Getman,  who  married  Delia  Shoe- 
maker; George  (2)  Getman,  who  married 
Elizabeth  House,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
House,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  Arabia  in  1770;  George  (3)  Get- 
man, who  married  Elizabeth  Empie ; 
Charles  Getman,  who  married  Chloe  Hut- 
ton  ;  to  Charles  Henry  Getman,  father  of 
the  Mr.  Getman  of  this  sketch. 

Charles  Henry  Getman  was  born  June 
1,  1840,  at  Troy,  New  York,  and  came, 
in  the  year  1888,  to  Connecticut,  where  he 
made  his  home  in  the  city  of  Stamford. 
He  will  long  be  remembered  in  that  place 


212 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


as  an  active  business  man,  and  as  a  citizen 
who  held  the  highest  ideals  of  life  and  had 
courage  to  carry  them  into  the  daily  rou- 
tine of  his  business.  Charles  Henry  Get- 
man  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Troy,  New  York,  and 
later  attended  the  academies  at  Lenox, 
Massachusetts,  and  Warrenville,  New 
York.  He  then  held  a  position  as  clerk 
for  three  years  in  the  lumber  office  of 
Piatt,  Getman  and  Harris,  of  Troy,  of 
which  firm  his  father  was  a  member.  He 
took  a  keen  interest  in  this  line  of  busi- 
ness and  devoted  himself  to  it  with  so 
much  zeal  and  industry,  that  he  was 
shortly  admitted  to  the  firm  as  a  junior 
partner,  and  remained  thus  associated 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1859  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  W.  Freeman, 
of  West  Troy,  engaged  in  the  same  busi- 
ness, and  there  remained  until  1874.  In 
that  year  he  acquired  an  interest  in  the 
wholesale  lumber  business  of  Boyd  & 
Company,  of  Oswego,  New  York,  the 
name  of  the  concern  being  changed  to 
Getman,  Boyd  &  Company,  Mr.  Getman 
assuming  full  control  of  the  business  and 
maintaining  it  for  some  time.  In  1888  he 
came  to  Stamford,  where  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  Mr.  St.  John,  of  the  firm 
of  St.  John,  Hoyt  &  Company,  his  asso- 
ciates being  Messrs.  Hoyt  and  Judd.  The 
three  gentlemen  continued  the  business 
under  the  name  of  Hoyt,  Getman  &  Judd 
until  1893,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Hoyt 
caused  a  reorganization  of  the  concern, 
the  name  being  changed  to  Getman  & 
Judd.  In  1897  Mr.  Frank  Bogardus  was 
admitted  into  partnership  and  the  name 
was  again  changed  to  Getman,  Judd  & 
Company.  At  about  this  time  Mr.  Get- 
man's  health  failed  seriously,  due  to  heart 
trouble.  His  death  occurred  on  October 
12,  1897,  at  Oswego,  New  York,  where 
he  had  gone  for  a  short  vacation.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  he  was  a  director  of  the 


Stamford  Savings  Bank,  and  of  both  the 
Massachusetts  and  Pennsylvania  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  companies.  He  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Suburban  Club  of  Stam- 
ford, the  Republican  Club  of  New  York 
City,  the  Connecticut  Society  of  the  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution,  and  the 
Stamford  Board  of  Trade,  of  which  he 
had  been  the  president  for  several  years. 
He  was  a  prominent  Free  Mason,  having 
joined  that  order  while  residing  in  Troy, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  lodge,  chapter, 
and  council,  and  the  Apollo  Comman- 
dery,  Knights  Templar.  In  politics  he 
was  a  staunch  Republican  and  was  promi- 
nent in  the  local  organization  of  his  party, 
representing  Stamford  in  the  State  Leg- 
islature of  1892  and  1893.  During  his 
membership  in  that  body  he  was  respon- 
sible for  the  granting  of  the  first  city 
charter  to  Stamford,  and  served  on  the 
committee  of  cities  and  boroughs.  He 
was  president  of  the  Connecticut  Lumber 
Dealers'  Association  and  labored  inde- 
fatigably  for  its  welfare.  During  the  Civil 
War  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  ord- 
nance stores  at  the  Watervliet  Arsenal, 
and  supervised  the  sending  of  supplies  to 
General  Grant  at  Chattanooga,  Tennes- 
see, after  the  battle  of  Lookout  Moun- 
tain. 

Charles  Henry  Getman  married,  Janu- 
ary 10,  1871,  Alice  Peake,  a  daughter  of 
Aaron  Peake  of  Broadalbin,  New  York, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  one  son, 
Frederick  Hutton  Getman,  with  whose 
career  we  are  here  especially  concerned. 

Frederick  H.  Getman,  only  son  of 
Charles  Henry  and  Alice  (Peake)  Get- 
man, was  born  February  9,  1877,  at  Os- 
wego, New  York,  and  removed  to  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut,  with  his  parents,  in  the 
spring  of  1888.  As  a  lad  he  attended  the 
King  School  at  Stamford,  from  which  he 
entered  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  In- 
stitute, where  he  remained  for  three  years. 

'13 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


He  then  matriculated  at  the  University 
of  Virginia,  where  he  took  a  general  scien- 
tific course,  specializing  in  the  subject  of 
chemistry.  He  graduated  from  the  chem- 
ical department  of  that  institution  in  1897, 
after  which  he  returned  to  the  North  and 
for  five  years  taught  chemistry  in  the 
Stamford  High  School.  In  1901  he  en- 
tered Johns  Hopkins  University  at  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  where  he  took  a  special 
course  in  physical  chemistry  and  where  he 
received  the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  in  1903.  In 
1902  and  1903  he  held  a  fellowship  at 
Johns  Hopkins,  and  during  the  year  fol- 
lowing, was  appointed  Carnegie  research 
assistant  in  physical  chemistry,  and  fel- 
low by  courtesy.  In  1904  he  was  called 
by  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York 
to  lecture  on  physical  chemistry,  and  in 
1905  became  instructor  in  physical  science 
at  the  Stamford  High  School.  Dr.  Get- 
man's  reputation  as  a  scientist  and  teacher 
had  been  firmly  established  by  this  time, 
and  he  was  called  by  Columbia  Univer- 
sity in  1906,  to  take  a  position  as  lecturer 
in  physics.  A  year  later  he  was  chosen 
associate  professor  of  chemistry  at  Bryn 
Mawr  College,  a  post  he  held  until  1914. 
In  that  year  he  resigned  from  his  position 
at  Bryn  Mawr,  and  gave  up  teaching  in 
order  to  devote  himself  to  scientific  re- 
search in  his  private  laboratory  at  Stam- 
ford. He  has  continued  thus  occupied 
up  to  the  present  and  is  now  engaged  in 
research  on  various  problems  in  physical 
chemistry.  The  theory  of  solution  has 
claimed  his  attention  for  nearly  twenty 
years,  and  he  may  claim  the  distinction 
of  being  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  Solvay  theory.  Dr.  Get- 
man's  thesis  for  his  degree  of  Ph.'  D. 
dealt  with  the  study  of  the  freezing-points 
of  solutions. 

He  has  written  extensively  on  his 
chosen  subjects,  his  works  including  nu- 
merous articles  on  the  theory  of  solution, 


which  have  appeared  in  the  "American 
Chemical  Journal"  and  the  "Journal  of  the 
American  Chemical  Society,"  and  he  has 
also  published  a  number  of  books,  notably 
those  entitled  "Blow-pipe  Analysis," 
"Laboratory  Exercises  in  Physical  Chem- 
istry" and  "Outlines  of  Theoretical  Chem- 
istry." The  laboratory  of  Dr.  Getman, 
already  referred  to,  was  built  by  him  near 
his  residence  at  Stamford,  and  is  fully 
equipped  with  the  most  modern  and  ap- 
proved apparatus  for  experimental  work 
of  the  most  delicate  nature.  As  one  who 
is  carrying  on  the  most  advanced  research 
in  his  line,  it  is  often  necessary  for  Dr. 
Getman  to  design  and  construct  new  de- 
vices and  apparatus  for  himself  and  in 
this  he  has  displayed  an  unusual  degree 
of  inventive  genius.  He  has  never  lost 
his  interest  in  educational  matters,  al- 
though he  has  himself  withdrawn  from 
active  work  in  that  line,  and  he  is  at  pres- 
ent a  director  of  the  King  School  of 
Stamford,  in  which  he  himself  was  a  stu- 
dent as  a  lad.  He  was  a  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
man  at  his  university,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  American  Chemical  Society,  the 
American  Electro-Chemical  Society,  the 
Franklin  Institute,  the  Chemists'  Club  of 
New  York,  and  the  Societe  de  Chimie 
Physique  of  Paris.  He  is  also  a  fellow  of 
the  American  Association  for  the  Ad- 
vancement of  Science,  and  of  the  London 
Chemical  Society.  Dr.  Getman,  in  spite 
of  his  preoccupation  with  science,  has 
always  given  considerable  attention  to  his 
large  business  interests  and  is  connected 
with  several  of  the  companies  with  which 
his  father  was  associated  before  his  death. 
He  is  vice-president  of  the  Getman  &Judd 
Company,  one  of  the  largest  firms  dealing 
in  timber  and  lumber  in  Connecticut,  and 
is  a  director  of  the  St.  John  Woodwork- 
ing Company.  Dr.  Getman  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Stamford  Presby- 
terian Church,  he  being  an  active  worker 


214 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


in  the  congregation,  and  chairman  of  its 
board  of  trustees. 

Frederick  H.  Getman  was  united  in 
marriage,  November  26,  1906,  with  Ellen 
M.  Holbrook,  a  daughter  of  Eliphalet  and 
Harriet  (Rice)  Holbrook,  old  and  highly 
respected  residents  of  Plymouth,  Massa- 
chusetts. 


SCOFIELD,  Samuel  Ferris, 

Honored   Citizen. 

There  is  no  name  more  honored  in  the 
history  of  Stamford,  Connecticut,  than 
Scofield.  It  was  first  brought  to  Fairfield 
county  by  the  immigrant  ancestor  of  the 
family,  Daniel  Scofield,  and  the  members 
of  each  generation  since  that  time  have 
added  to  its  honor.  They  have  been  men 
who  were  held  high  in  the  regard  of  their 
fellow-citizens,  and  were  identified  with 
the  upbuilding  of  their  communities.  A 
worthy  scion  of  this  distinguished  family 
was  the  late  Samuel  Ferris  Scofield,  of 
Stamford,  one  of  the  useful  and  upright 
citizens  of  his  day. 

Many  surnames  were  derived  from  the 
localities  where  the  individuals  resided 
who  adopted  them :  Slocum,  from  Sloe 
Combe,  the  wild  plum  pasture ;  and 
Welles,  which  was  taken  from  the  springs 
of  water  near  a  home.  Scolefield,  the 
original  form  of  Scofield,  literally  signi- 
fied a  field  containing  small  houses  or 
cottages,  similar  to  those  which  would  be 
found  on  the  estate  of  the  early  titled 
English  families.  Through  the  centuries 
this  changed  in  form  and  spelling  to  the 
present  day  usage,  Scofield. 

The  progenitor  of  the  family  was  Dan- 
iel Scofield,  born  in  the  parish  of  Roch- 
dale, Lancashire,  England.  He  was  a 
grandson  of  Sir  Cuthbert  Scofield,  of  Sco- 
field Manor,  the  family  being  of  ancient 
and  honorable  lineage.  In  the  reign  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  arms  were  granted  to 


Sir  Cuthbert  Scofield  as  a  younger  son 
of  the  Scofields  of  Kent,  and  who  was 
knighted  for  services  A.  D.  1588  in  the 
Spanish  Armada. 

Arms:  Granted  1582. 

Arms — Gules,    a    chevron    between    three    bull's 
heads,  couped   (another  cabossed)   argent. 
Crest— A  bull's  head  gules,  collared  argent. 
Another  Crest — A  bull's  head  or. 

There  are  indications  from  which  a 
pretty  accurate  line  of  descent  could  be 
traced  one  hundred  years  farther  than  Sir 
Cuthbert  Scofield.  The  name  has  simply 
been  Scofield  in  the  records  for  more  than 
three  hundred  years.  Schofield,  Scovil 
and  Scoville  are  variations. 

(I)  Daniel  Scofield,  immigrant  ances- 
tor, came  to  America  in  1639,  in  the  ship 
"Susan  and  Ellen,"  and  after  residing  for 
a  time  in  Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  he  lo- 
cated in  Stamford,  Connecticut,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1671.  On  December  7, 
1641,  he  received  two  acres  consisting  of 
a  home  lot,  and  three  acres  of  woodland, 
as  the  first  company.  He  was  a  man  of 
prominence  in  the  Colony,  and  served  as 
marshal  of  Stamford  in  1658.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Youngs,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Youngs,  and  she  married  (second)  Miles 
Merwin. 

(II)  John  Scofield,  son  of  Daniel  and 
Mary  (Youngs)  Scofield,  was  born  in 
1650,  and  died  March  27,  1699.  He  mar- 
ried in  Stamford,  July  12,  1677,  Hannah 
Mead. 

(III)  Nathaniel  Scofield,  son  of  John 
and  Hannah  (Mead)  Scofield,  was  born 
December  10,  1688,  and  died  1768.  He 
married,  June  13,  1713-14,  Elizabeth 
Pettet. 

(IV).  John  (2)  Scofield,  son  of  Nathan- 
iel and  Elizabeth  (Pettet)  Scofield,  was 
born  October  4,  1716.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  a  teamster  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.    He  married,  in  1743,  Hannah  Mills. 


215 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(V)  John  (3)  Scofield,  son  of  John 
(2)  and  Hannah  (Mills)  Scofield,  was 
born  September  4,  1746.  He  married 
(first)  February  18,  1768,  Susannah 
Weed,  and  there  were  no  children  by  this 
marriage.  On  January  14,  1773,  he  mar- 
ried (second)  Elizabeth  Nicholas,  a 
Scotch  woman.  She  was  a  fearless  horse- 
woman, and  during  the  Revolution  was 
riding  near  Norwalk  one  day  when  she 
was  overtaken  by  some  British  officers 
who  boasted  that  they  had  burned  Nor- 
walk and  would  soon  burn  Stamford. 
Mrs.  Scofield  quickly  grasping  the  situa- 
tion thought  of  a  short  cut  back  to  Stam- 
ford, and  with  confidence  in  the  speed  of 
her  horse  she  rode  back  through  the 
woods  and  warned  the  men  of  Stamford  of 
the  coming  of  British,  and  thereby  saved 
the  town.  John  Scofield  and  his  brave 
wife  are  buried  in  the  family  lot  two  miles 
north  of  the  city  of  Stamford.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children. 

(VI)  Silas  Scofield,  third  child  and 
second  son  of  John  (3)  and  Elizabeth 
(Nicholas)  Scofield,  was  born  April  2, 
1776,  and  died  in  1853.  He  married,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1803,  Rebecca  Holmes.  The 
name  of  Holmes  originated  in  England 
about  A.  D.  970,  when  King  Etheldred 
conferred  upon  his  grandson  the  title, 
"Earl  of  Holmes."  The  first  of  this  il- 
lustrious family  to  come  to  America  were 
Robert  Holmes,  who  settled  in  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,  and  John,  Oba- 
diah,  George  and  William  Holmes,  who 
came  to  Massachusetts  three  years  later. 
After  three  years  there,  John  Holmes  set- 
tled in  New  Bedford.  Silas  and  Rebecca 
(Holmes)  Scofield  were  the  parents  of 
three  sons :  Silas,  Benjamin  and  Alfred. 
When  Benjamin  and  Alfred  reached  their 
majority,  Silas  Scofield  bought  the  land 
which  was  then  called  Westcotts,  where 
Mrs.  Scofield  now  lives,  which  had  been 
reserved  by  the  Indians  for  their  planting 


ground  at  the  time  the  colonists  bought 
the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Stamford. 
Silas  Scofield  gave  these  sons  that  point 
of  land  as  a  wedding  present  and  the  farm 
has  been  in  the  family  ever  since.  He 
also  owned  the  land  and  built  the  stone 
house  on  Elm  street  at  the  head  of  which 
is  now  Shippan  avenue. 

(VII)  Benjamin  Scofield,  son  of  Silas 
and  Rebecca  (Holmes)  Scofield,  was  born 
at  Shippan,  Stamford,  Connecticut,  March 
2,  1804.  He  was  sergeant  of  the  Train 
Band,  and  was  a  farmer  throughout  the 
active  years  of  his  life.  His  death  oc- 
curred January  5,  1884.  Benjamin  Sco- 
field married  Susan  Ferris,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Ferris. 

(VIII)  Samuel  Ferris  Scofield,  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Susan  (Ferris)  Scofield, 
was  born  in  the  place  now  occupied  by 
his  family,  November  11,  1839.  He  grew 
to  manhood  there,  and  with  his  brother, 
Charles  A.  Scofield,  who  still  survives,  he 
succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  home 
farm,  where  they  engaged  in  general 
farming.  Samuel  Ferris  Scofield  was  very 
much  of  a  home  man ;  his  interests  were 
centered  in  his  family  and  the  care  of  the 
homestead.  However,  he  was  a  good 
citizen,  a  man  of  high  principles,  and  was 
always  willing  and  anxious  to  do  his  share 
for  the  welfare  of  the  public. 

Mr.  Scofield  married,  September  28, 
1871,  Frances  Elizabeth  Hoyt,  daughter 
of  Ira  Ford  Hoyt,  of  South  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut. The  Hoyt  genealogy  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  Mrs.  Scofield's  brother,  Dudley 
E.  Hoyt.  Mrs.  Scofield  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Science  church,  in  which  she 
has  advanced  to  the  office  of  reader.  She 
is  also  a  Christian  Science  practitioner. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scofield  were  the  parents  of 
four  daughters :  Mary  Wixon,  Susan  Em- 
ily ;  Ada  Irene,  married  Clarence  E.  Bor- 
gardus,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 

16 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


where  in  this  work;  Frances  S.,  married 
Harry  C.  Quintard,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Virginia.  Mr.  Scofield  died  at  the 
family  homestead. 

Like  leaves  on  trees, 

The  race  of  man  is  found. 

Now  green  in  youth, 

Now  withering  on  the  ground. 

Another  race  the  following  spring  supplies, 

They  fall  successive,  and  successive  rise. 

So  generations  in  their  course  decay, 

So  flourish  these  when  those  have  passed  away. 


SCOFIELD,  Harry  Clinton, 

Lawyer,   Public-spirited   Citizen. 

Eminent  in  his  own  right  as  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  Stamford,  Connecti- 
cut, Harry  C.  Scofield  is  also  a  descend- 
ant of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  promi- 
nent families  of  Fairfield  county.  Mem- 
bers of  the  Scofield  family  have  been  fore- 
most in  thought  and  action  in  their  com- 
munities, and  have  marked  their  passing 
years  with  worthy  achievements.  Since 
1641,  in  which  year  Daniel  Scofield  (q.  v.), 
the  immigrant  ancestor  of  the  family  set- 
tled in  Fairfield  county,  there  have  been 
men  of  this  name  in  responsible  and  hon- 
ored positions. 

Alpheus  Scofield,  great-great-grand- 
father of  Harry  Clinton  Scofield,  was  a 
settler  of  Newfield.  His  name  appears  on 
the  land  records  as  a  grantee  as  early  as 
1793,  and  frequently  in  land  transactions 
after  that  date.  His  will  was  proved  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1844,  and  in  it  he  mentions  his 
wife  Elizabeth.  The  Stamford  vital  rec- 
ords state  that  "Mrs.  Alpheus  Scofield 
died  July  18,  1852,  aged  seventy-five 
years." 

Hezekiah  Scofield,  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  and  the  father  of  Luther 
S.  Scofield,  died  March  27,  1879,  aged 
sixty-one  years,  one  month  and  twenty- 
five  days.     Luther  S.  Scofield  served  as 


selectman,  and  was  a  dealer  in  live  stock 
in  partnership  with  his  son,  Sylvester  L. 
He  married  Caroline  Crissey,  daughter  of 
Abram  Crissey,  of  Darien,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Abram  Crissey,  the  first 
school  teacher  of  that  town. 

Sylvester  Luther  Scofield,  son  of  Luther 
S.  Scofield,  was  born  in  Stamford,  in 
1845,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  there  and  at  the  Glendenning 
Academy,  a  well  known  school  of  that 
period.  He  was  accustomed  to  assist 
his  father  in  the  cattle  business  from 
his  boyhood,  and  after  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  entered  the  work  with  his  fa- 
ther. They  purchased  cattle  and  slaugh- 
tered them  and  did  business  on  such  a 
large  scale  at  one  time  that  they  helped 
to  fix  the  prices  of  meat  in  New  York 
City,  which  city  drew  largely  on  Western 
Connecticut  for  its  meat  supply.  About 
1894  Mr.  Scofield  retired  from  his  active 
business  cares  to  enjoy  a  well-deserved 
rest.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  held  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and  grand  juror.  He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  Con- 
necticut Volunteer  Infantry,  for  nine 
months,  but  served  two  years.  After  the 
war  he  organized  the  Regimental  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  he  was  president  for 
many  years,  and  then  its  secretary  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  compiled  the 
records  of  his  regiment,  now  deposited  at 
Hartford.  Mr.  Scofield  was  an  active 
member  of  William  T.  Miner  Post,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  of  which  he  was 
past  commander.  He  also  held  office  in 
the  State  organization  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

Sylvester  Luther  Scofield  married  Har- 
riet L.  Scofield,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Polly  A.  (Ferris)  Scofield.  Nathan- 
iel Scofield  was  a  son  of  Phineas  Scofield, 
who  married  (first)  Mercy  Finch,  whose 


217 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


mother  was  Rachel  Bishop,  great-grand- 
daughter of  Rev.  John  Bishop,  the  first 
minister  of  Stamford.  Rev.  John  Bishop 
walked  from  Boston  to  Stamford  with  his 
staff  and  Bible.  He  married  Susanna 
Pierson,  daughter  of  Rev.  Abraham  Pier- 
son,  one  of  the  founders  and  the  first 
president  of  Yale  College.  Nathaniel 
Scofield  married  Polly  A.  Ferris,  daughter 
of  Asa  Ferris,  of  Sound  Beach.  Their 
daughter,  Harriet  L.  Scofield,  became  the 
wife  of  Sylvester  Luther  Scofield,  as 
above  mentioned.  The  children  of  Syl- 
vester L.  and  Harriet  L.  (Scofield)  Sco- 
field were:  Carrie  L.,  and  Harry  Clinton, 
of  whom  further. 

Harry  Clinton  Scofield,  only  son  of 
Sylvester  Luther  and  Harriet  L.  (Sco- 
field) Scofield,  was  born  May  7,  1875.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  and  graduated 
from  the  Stamford  High  School.  Subse- 
quently he  went  to  New  York  City  and 
for  thirteen  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
a  marine  insurance  company.  In  his 
evenings  and  spare  time  from  his  business 
he  attended  the  Dwight  School  of  New 
York  and  then  pursued  a  course  in  the 
New  York  Law  School,  graduating  in 
1907.  During  the  time  he  was  attending 
the  lav/  school  he  was  a  law  student  in 
the  office  of  Judge  James  E.  Bennett,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar  in 
1907,  and  five  years  later  to  the  Connec- 
ticut bar.  For  three  years  Mr.  Scofield 
practiced  in  New  York  and  then  removed 
to  his  native  city,  where  he  has  since  been 
located.  Mr.  Scofield  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  affairs  of  Stamford.  He  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  public  and  social 
matters,  and  his  counsel  is  often  sought 
on  many  public  questions.  Mr.  Scofield 
was  a  delegate  to  the  first  convention  of 
the  Progressive  party  in  Chicago,  and  he 
formulated   the   Connecticut   platform   of 

2 


that  party  in  collaboration  with  Herbert 
Knox  Smith,  and  Dr.  Flavel  S.  Luther. 
For  two  years  he  served  as  deputy  judge 
of  the  City  Court  of  Stamford,  and  is  now 
secretary  of  the  school  board. 

Mr.  Scofield  is  also  a  director  of  sev- 
eral business  and  financial  corporations ; 
he  is  a  director  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  and  of  the  Visiting 
Nurses'  Association.  His  activities  in 
fraternal  organizations  are  many.  While 
a  student  at  law  school,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  class  committee  and  president 
of  his  class ;  was  a  member  of  the  Owls 
Head  Club,  and  of  Nylsens  Club,  which 
he  served  as  president.  He  is  a  past 
master  of  Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons ;  and  is  district  deputy 
grand  master  of  the  First  Masonic  Dis- 
trict of  Connecticut;  member  of  Ritten- 
house  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons ; 
Washington  Council,  Royal  and  Select 
Masters;  Clinton  Commandery,  Knights 
Templar;  and  Lafayette  Consistory,  of 
Bridgeport,  of  which  he  is  junior  warden. 
He  also  holds  membership  in  Puritan 
Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. Other  societies  of  which  Mr.  Sco- 
field is  a  member  are  :  The  Stamford  His- 
torical Society ;  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution ;  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans. 

Mr.  Scofield  married  Florence  Weed 
Scofield,  daughter  of  George  A.  Scofield, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  a  son,  Laur- 
ence Pierson  Scofield,  named  for  the  an- 
cestor of  the  family,  Abraham  Pierson, 
above  mentioned.  Laurence  P.  Scofield 
was  born  October  28,  1900.  Mrs.  Flor- 
ence Weed  Scofield  died  in  that  year. 
Mr.  Scofield  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  of  Stamford,  and  is  ac- 
tive in  its  good  works.  He  has  served  as 
deacon  and  superintendent  of  its  Sunday 
school. 
18 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


LOWE,  Russell  Walter, 

Physician,  World  War  Veteran. 

Dr.  Lowe's  family  is  of  ancient  Eng- 
lish origin,  resident  in  Derbyshire,  where 
its  members  bore  arms  as  follows : 

Arms— Gules,  a  hart  trippant  argent. 
Crest — A  wolf  passant  argent. 

(I)  Its  American  history  begins  with  the 
coming  of  Thomas  Lowe  from  his  Eng- 
lish home  to  the  United  States  about  1847, 
when  he  settled  in  Stockbridge,  New 
York.  He  married,  in  England,  Martha 
Ann  Thaxter,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of:  James,  born  1838;  John;  Walter 
Robert,  of  whom  further;  William,  Lep- 
timus,  Charles,  Sarah. 

(II)  Walter  Robert  Lowe,  son  of 
Thomas  and  Martha  A.  (Thaxter)  Lowe, 
was  born  in  Buxton,  England,  in  1841.  He 
was  an  architect  and  builder,  acquiring  an 
enviable  reputation  and  patronage  in  that 
line,  especially  in  Madison  county,  New 
York,  where  he  was  a  successful  business 
man.  For  thirty-two  years  he  was  in 
partnership  with  Chauncey  Quackenbush 
in  Oneida,  under  the  firm  name  of  Quack- 
enbush &  Lowe,  retiring  in  1916  to  private 
life  and  taking  up  his  residence  in  Ridge- 
field,  Connecticut.  He  held  many  positions 
of  trust,  served  for  years  as  collector  and 
assessor  of  his  town,  also  as  alderman. 
Public-spirited  and  enterprising,  he  did 
all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  welfare 
of  the  community.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican.  He  married,  August  9,  1866, 
Abbie  De  Etta  Ranney,  daughter  of 
Oliver  Russell  and  Elizabeth  Franklin 
(Carpenter)  Ranney  (see  Ranney  VII). 
Children:  1.  Russell  Walter,  of  whom 
further.  2.  Agnes  Elizabeth,  born  May 
7,  1872 ;  married  Henry  B.  Doxstader,  and 
resides  in  Oneida,  New  York.  They  have 
three  children,  Helen  Agnes,  Hattie 
Louise,  and  Delila  Abbie. 


(Ill)  Russell  Walter  Lowe,  son  of 
Walter  Robert  and  Abbie  De  Etta  (Ran- 
ney) Lowe,  was  born  in  Oneida,  Madi- 
son county,  New  York,  March  19,  1868. 
After  attending  the  Oneida  schools,  he 
entered  the  medical  department  of  New 
York  University,  and  was  graduated 
M.  D.  in  1889.  For  one  year  he  served  in 
the  Bridgeport  Hospital  as  house  sur- 
geon, and  subsequently  practiced  in 
Georgetown,  Connecticut,  for  three  and 
one-half  years.  About  1894  he  made 
Ridgefield  his  home  and  his  place  of  prac- 
tice, and  has  there  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Dr.  Lowe  has  an  extensive 
practice  in  New  York,  and  his  local  work 
covers  approximately  a  seven  mile  radius 
from  Ridgefield.  His  office  is  splendidly 
appointed,  and  his  clientele  is  among  the 
representative  families  of  the  district. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  New  York  Acad- 
emy of  Meuicine,  the  Medical  and  Sur- 
gical Association  of  New  York,  and  local 
professional  bodies. 

Dr.  Lowe  has  taken  a  public-spirited 
interest  in  affairs  of  public  concern,  and 
for  about  eighteen  years  was  active  in 
local  matters.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
sixth  school  district  for  two  years,  as- 
sisted in  the  organization  of  the  borough 
of  Ridgefield,  and  led  in  the  movement 
that  resulted  in  the  installation  of  the 
sewerage  system  of  the  town.  His  political 
convictions  are  Republican,  but  he  has 
taken  little  part  in  party  affairs.  He  is 
a  past  master  of  Ark  Lodge,  No.  39,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Wilton,  having 
been  honored  with  that  office  when 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  one  of  the 
youngest  men  in  the  State  to  be  made 
master  of  a  lodge.  Dr.  Lowe  also  affil- 
iates  with  Chapter,    Royal   Arch 

Masons,  Danbury  Commandery,  Knights 
Templar,  and  Pyramid  Temple,  Ancient 
Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 


219 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


of  Bridgeport.  Dr.  Lowe  entered  the 
medical  department  of  the  United  States 
army  during  the  World  War  and  was  in 
service  for  eighteen  months.  He  was 
assigned  to  various  hospitals,  including 
those  at  Camp  Oglethorpe  and  Camp 
Gordon,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
with  the  rank  of  captain. 

Dr.  Lowe  married,  in  1891,  Maria 
Louisa  Beers,  born  in  Branchville,  Fair- 
field county,  Connecticut,  daughter  of 
William  W.  and  Louisa  (Gilbert)  Beers 
(see  Beers  V).  They  are  the  parents  of 
one  son,  Gilbert,  born  July  10,  1893,  who 
was  educated  in  St.  Paul's  School  in  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire,  and  Columbia 
University.  He  had  served  three  years 
in  the  medical  corps  of  the  United  States 
navy,  and  had  been  honorably  discharged 
before  the  United  States  entered  the 
World  War.  Re-enlisting,  he  was  de- 
tailed for  duty  at  the  Naval  Hospital  in 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire.  He  mar- 
ried Jeannette  Merrill,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Jane,  born  May 
26,  1918. 

(The  Ranney  Line). 

Volume  II  "Scottish  Arms"  names  the 
Rany  and  Renny  families.  Herbert  Ray- 
ning  sat  in  Parliament  for  Dumfries, 
1572.  Robert  Rayning  was  provost,  1578. 
Symon  Renny  was  bailie  of  Inverkeithing, 
1360.  Sir  John  Rany,  of  England,  is 
named  in  1660.  The  name  is  given  in  va- 
rious forms  in  France  and  Flanders  at  a 
very  early  date.  Arms  have  been  borne 
as  follows : 

Arms — Gules,  two  wings  in  pale  argent,  each 
charged  with  three  bars  gemels  sable. 

(I)  Thomas  Rany,  born  about  1616, 
first  American  ancestor,  was  in  Middle- 
town,  Connecticut,  in  1658.  Gravestone 
records  say  he  died  June  21,  1713.  His 
will  and  an  inventory  of  his  estate  are  on 
file   in    Hartford.     He   married,   in   May, 


1659,  Mary  Hubbard,  born  January  16, 
1641,  died  December  18,  1721,  daughter 
of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Watts)  Hub- 
bard. Children:  Thomas,  born  1660; 
John,  of  whom  further ;  Joseph,  born 
1663;  Mary,  born  1665,  married  John 
Savage ;  Elizabeth,  born  1668,  married 
Jonathan  Warner;  Esther,  born  1673, 
married  Nathaniel  Savage ;  Hannah,  born 
1675,  died  1713;  Margaret,  born  1678-79, 
married  Stephan  Clark ;  Ebenezer,  born 
about  1681  ;  Mercy,  born  1682 ;  Abigail, 
married,  1713-14,  Walter  Harris. 

(II)  John  Ranney,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Hubbard)  Rany,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1662.  He  married,  December  28, 
1693,  Hannah  Turner,  born  March  4, 
1678-79,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Mary 
(Sanford)  Turner.  They  lived  in  Mid- 
dletown,  Connecticut,  and  were  original 
members  of  the  North  Society  Church  in 
1714-15.  Children:  Marce,  born  1695, 
married  John  Hall;  Hannah,  born  1699; 
John,  born  1700,  died  same  year;  John, 
born  1703;  Richard,  of  whom  further; 
Deborah,  born  1708;  Jeremiah,  born  1713; 
Samuel,  born   1715,  married  Ann  Miller. 

(III)  Richard  Ranney,  son  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Turner)  Ranney,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1705,  and  died  September  16, 
1759.  A  Richard  Ranney  served,  April 
19-September  3,  1758,  in  the  Seventh 
Company,  First  Regiment.  He  married, 
November  7,  1729,  in  East  Middletown, 
Connecticut,  Margery  Miller,  born  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1706,  daughter  of  John  and 
Marcy  (Bevins)  Miller.  Children:  Jere- 
miah, born  1730;  Richard,  born  1732; 
Elijah,  of  whom  further ;  Stephen,  born 
1737  ;  Marcy,  born  1739  ;  Mary,  born  1740; 
Jabez,  born  1742-43,  married  Penelope 
Bowers ;  Edward,  born  1746,  served  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War;  Abner,  born 
1747;  Hannah,  born  1750,  married  Joel 
Hale;  Mary,  born  1754. 


220 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


(IV)  Elijah  Ranney,  son  of  Richard 
and  Margery  (Miller)  Ranney,  was  born 
October  6,  1735,  in  Middletown,  Connec- 
ticut, died  1789,  and  his  estate  was  dis- 
tributed, October  7,  1789.  In  1756  he 
purchased  land  in  Granville,  and  in  1773 
removed  to  Blanford,  Massachusetts.  He 
married,  March  2,  1763,  in  Granville, 
Massachusetts,  Mary  Cook,  born  1744, 
died  April  1,  1832.  Children:  Mary,  born 
1763,  married  Jonathan  Norton;  Sybil, 
born  1765,  married  a  Mr.  Crane ;  Jere- 
miah, born  May  5,  1769;  Elijah,  removed 
to  Watervliet,  New  York ;  Ebenezer,  of 
whom  further;  Rufus,  born  1780;  Rox- 
ana,  married  John  Loyd ;  Eunice,  married 
Darius  Stephens. 

(V)  Ebenezer  Ranney,  son  of  Elijah 
and  Mary  (Cook)  Ranney,  was  born  May 
25,  1776,  and  died  April  12,  i860.  In 
1797  he  removed  to  Waterville,  New 
York,  and  from  there  to  Augusta,  New 
York.  In  1832  he  removed  to  Valley 
Mills,  where  he  erected  a  saw  mill  and  a 
woolen  mill.  He  was  a  Baptist,  organ- 
ized a  society  in  Augusta,  New  York,  and 
at  his  own  expense  rebuilt  the  mission 
church  in  Valley  Mills,  and  preached  in 
it  many  years.  He  is  said  to  have  served 
at  Sacketts  Harbor  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  married,  February  23,  1800,  Almeda 
Bartholomew,  born  July  26,  1781,  in 
Goshen,  Connecticut,  died  June  19,  1868, 
daughter  of  Oliver  and  Ann  (Lacy)  Bar- 
tholomew. Children:  Ores,  born  1801 ; 
Dorcas,  born  1803,  married  Zacharias 
Lewis  ;  Hiram,  born  1805  ;  Ebenezer,  born 
1809,  married  Betsey  Calkins;  Anson  L., 
born  181 1, •  Oliver  Russell,  of  whom  fur- 
ther; Almeda  Pamelia,  born  1820,  mar- 
ried William  W.  Bingham. 

(VI)  Oliver  Russell  Ranney,  son  of 
Ebenezer  and  Almeda  (Bartholomew) 
Ranney,  was  born  in  Augusta,  New  York, 
in  January,  1816,  and  died  June  24,  1897. 


He  was  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  married,  in  Stockbridge,  New  York, 
November  22,  1835,  Elizabeth  Franklin 
Carpenter,  born  May  5,  1814,  died  Decem- 
ber 13,  1877,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and 
Dorcas  (Gardner)  Carpenter,  of  Rhode 
Island.  Children  :  Agnes  Elizabeth,  born 
1839,  died  1854;  Elvira  Ann,  born  1842, 
died  1849;  Abbie  De  Etta,  of  whom  fur- 
ther; Mary  Josephine,  born  1850,  died 
1862. 

(VII)  Abbie  De  Etta  Ranney,  daughter 
of  Oliver  Russell  and  Elizabeth  Frank- 
lin (Carpenter)  Ranney,  born  February 
5,  1847,  'n  Stockbridge,  New  York,  mar- 
ried, August  9,  1866,  in  Oneida,  New 
York,  Walter  Robert  Lowe  (see  Lowe 
II). 

(The  Beers  Line). 

England  is  the  fatherland  of  the  Beers 
family.  Genealogical  records  trace  its 
ancestry  to  the  feudal  age  under  the  name 
Beare,  which  was  afterwards  written 
Bears.     Coat-of-arms : 

Arms — Argent,  a  bear  rampant,  sable,  canton 
gules. 

Crest — On  a  garb  lying  fesseways  or,  a  raven 
sable. 

Motto — Bear  and  forbear. 

(I)  John  Beers,  founder  of  the  family 
in  America,  was  in  Stratford,  Connecti- 
cut, in  1678.  He  came  to  America  with 
his  wife  Mary.  His  sons  were:  Barna- 
bas, married  Elizabeth  Wilcoxson,  in 
1688;  Samuel,  married,  1706,  Sarah  Sher- 
man; Josiah,  married,  1717,  Elizabeth  Uf- 
ford ;  Joseph,  of  whom  further ;  Abiel, 
married,  1722,  Elizabeth  Cammel. 

(II)  Joseph  Beers,  son  of  John  and 
Mary  Beers,  married,  in  1720,  Sarah 
Clark.  Children:  Ephraim,  born  1722; 
Mary,  born  1723 ;  Joseph  and  John 
(twins),  born  1727;  Andrew,  born  1729; 


221 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Abel,  born  1732;  Sarah,  born  1734;  Mat- 
thew, of  whom  further. 

(III)  Matthew  Beers,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Clark)  Beers,  was  born  De- 
cember 19,  1736.  He  married  Sarah  Cur- 
tis, of  Stratford.  Children  :  Curtis,  Silas, 
Menzis,  Otis,  Lewis,  of  whom  further; 
Lucinda. 

(IV)  Lewis  Beers,  son  of  Matthew  and 
Sarah  (Curtis)  Beers,  married  Rhoda 
Gregory,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rhoda 
Gregory.  Among  their  children  was  Wil- 
liam W.,  of  whom  further. 

(V)  William  W.  Beers,  son  of  Lewis 
and  Rhoda  (Gregory)  Beers,  was  born 
in  Ridgefield,  Connecticut,  September 
II,  1821,  and  died  August  20,  1879,  in 
Branchville,  Connecticut.  He  enjoyed 
the  best  educational  advantages  the  coun- 
try afforded,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  began  teaching  in  Ridgefield.  In 
185 1  he  started  his  career  as  merchant 
in  Branchville,  where  he  continued  to  re- 
side until  his  death.  He  began  in  a  small 
way,  at  first  selling  lumber,  later  coal, 
and  then  all  kinds  of  hardware  and  crock- 
ery. He  was  the  first  postmaster  in 
Branchville,  and  first  station  agent  there 
on  the  Norwalk  &  Danbury  Railroad. 
His  death  cast  a  gloom  over  the  commu- 
nity of  which  he  was  a  shining  member. 
Strictly  upright  in  all  his  dealings,  rigidly 
honorable,  he  was  at  the  same  time 
kindly,  benevolent  and  always  ready  to 
help  the  poor  and  needy.  In  matters  re- 
lating to  church  he  was  not  active,  but 
contributed  liberally  of  his  means.  He 
married  (first),  Paulina  M.  Edmonds; 
(second),  Louisa  Gilbert,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Charlotte  (Birchard)  Gil- 
bert. Children  by  first  wife :  Carrie  G., 
married  Lewis  L.  Valden ;  Mary  E.,  mar- 
ried Ebenezer  Hoyt ;  children  by  second 
wife :  Louis  G. ;  Maria  Louisa,  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  Russell  Walter  Lowe  (see  Lowe 
III). 


WARDWELL,  Frederick  Schuyler, 

Man  of  Varied  Activities. 

Two  decades  constitute  the  period  that 
Frederick  Schuyler  Wardwell  passed  in 
the  Stamford  community,  during  which 
he  performed  most  of  the  work  upon 
which  his  professional  reputation  rests 
and  formed  the  ties  that  made  his  death  a 
universal  loss.  The  engineering  works 
that  he  accomplished  during  that  time 
will  remain  as  monuments  to  him  for 
many  years,  while  in  the  friendships  he 
formed,  the  impression  of  his  purposeful, 
productive  life  upon  his  associates,  his 
memory  will  endure  far  beyond  his  time. 
There  is  placed  this  record  of  his  career 
among  those  of  the  people  who  knew  him 
best,  as  a  tribute  and  memorial  to  an 
adopted  son  of  Connecticut  whose  activi- 
ties reflect  great  credit  upon  the  common- 
wealth. 

Frederick  S.  Wardwell  was  a  son  of 
Emery  Schuyler  Wardwell,  whose  father 
was  a  native  of  Penobscot,  Maine,  where 
he  followed  the  calling  of  farmer,  at  one 
time  owning  a  tract  of  land  one  mile 
square.  Emery  Schuyler  Wardwell  was 
born  about  1841,  in  Penobscot,  and  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  carpenter's  trade. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  as  lieu- 
tenant in  Company  K,  First  Regiment, 
Maine  Heavy  Artillery,  and  was  subse- 
quently transferred  to  the  Eighteenth 
Regiment,  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  served 
with  his  regiment  until  it  took  up  a  posi- 
tion before  Petersburg,  when  he  was 
prostrated  by  typhoid  pneumonia,  which 
disabled  him  for  a  period  of  fourteen 
months.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  be- 
came an  instructor  in  schools,  for  a  time 
serving  as  superintendent.  He  was  a  well 
educated  man  for  his  day,  his  wife's  edu- 
cation being  even  superior  to  his.  For 
some  time  he  was  trial  justice  in  Penob- 
scot.    Just   before   the   Civil    War,    Mr. 


222 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


Wardwell  moved  to  Bucksport,  where  he 
purchased  a  large  farm,  known  as  the 
"Stover  place,"  and  engaged  in  dairying. 
His  health,  however,  was  not  equal  to  the 
demands  of  agricultural  pursuits  and  he 
returned  to  Bangor,  where  he  spent  his 
few  remaining  years.  He  belonged  to  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in  Bucks- 
port. 

Mr.  Wardwell  married  Roxanna  Hatch, 
daughter  of  Elisha  Hatch,  of  North  Pe- 
nobscot. Mr.  liatch,  who  was  a  farmer, 
was  a  native  of  Castine,  Maine,  where  his 
father  had  taken  up  land.  One  branch  of 
the  family  had  long  been  resident. there, 
old  records  showing  that  Frederick  Hatch 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town. 
Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wardwell,  the  following  reached 
maturity :  Frederick  Schuyler,  of  whom 
further;  Melville  H.,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Victor  P.,  of  Stamford,  Connecticut ; 
Frances,  of  Portland,  Maine ;  Parris  E., 
of  Asbury  Park,  New  Jersey;  and  Geor- 
gia. At  the  time  of  his  death,  Mr.  Ward- 
well  was  about  fifty-four  years  of  age. 

Frederick  Schuyler  Wardwell,  son  of 
Emery  Schuyler  and  Roxanna  (Hatch) 
Wardwell,  was  born  January  10,  1863, 
in  Bucksport,  Maine.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town  and  at  the  East  Maine  Confer- 
ence Seminary.  After  a  time  spent  in 
filling  clerkships  he  went,  in  1882,  to 
Minnesota,  where  he  attended  lectures  at 
the  State  University  in  St.  Paul.  In  those 
days  Minnesota  was  a  frontier  State,  In- 
dians and  game  being  plentiful,  and  when 
Mr.  Wardwell  joined  the  engineering 
corps  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  he 
slept  out-of-doors  throughout  an  entire 
winter.  He  was  employed  by  the  railroad 
company  about  two  years,  and  then  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Twin  Cities  Rapid 
Transit  Company,  that  company  being 
among  the  pioneers  in  the  electric  railwav 


business.  He  was  sent  by  this  company 
to  represent  them  at  Duluth  and  there 
built  the  famous  incline  which  is  still  in 
operation.  He  also  constructed  the  street 
railway  of  Duluth,  and  rebuilt  it  when  the 
change  was  made  to  electric  power,  a 
piece  of  work  which  occupied  him  about 
four  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  East 
for  the  purpose  of  building  the  Edge- 
wood  Avenue  Railroad  of  New  Haven, 
afterward  constructing  the  Danbury  and 
Bethel  Street  Railway  System.  Next 
came  the  Torresdale  and  Bristol  Street 
Railway,  near  Philadelphia,  and  the  erec- 
tion of  a  foundry  and  machine  shop  for 
the  Norwalk  Iron  Works  completing  the 
list  of  his  work  of  this  period. 

He  came  to  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
about  1900  to  undertake  the  work  of 
widening  the  east  branch  of  the  harbor 
and  to  construct  docks.  Here  he  made 
the  headquarters  for  a  business  that 
steadily  increased,  and  to  which  he  gave 
the  technical  skill,  energy  and  enthusiasm 
for  which  he  became  noted.  He  con- 
cluded to  make  a  specialty  of  water-front 
construction,  and  gradually  acquired  an 
equipment  that  enabled  him  to  perform 
work  for  which  comparatively  few  were 
prepared  to  contract.  One  of  his  accom- 
plishments, which  attracted  wide  atten- 
tion, was  the  laying  of  a  pipe  in  Newport 
harbor  at  a  depth  of  about  ninety  feet  to 
carry  water  from  the  mainland  to  Dutch 
Island,  a  military  post,  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  shore.  This  work  was  done 
in  mid-winter.  He  constructed  an  outfall 
sewer  with  forty-two  inch  pipe  at  Coney 
Island.  His  work  in  Stamford  included 
the  construction  of  docks  for  the  Stoll- 
werck  Company,  a  bulkhead  for  the 
Petroleum  Heat  and  Power  Company, 
docks  for  the  Yale  &  Towne  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  the  Getman  &  Jugg  Com- 
pany, the  Masons'  Supply  Company,  and 
the    Luders    Marine    Construction    Com- 


223 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


pany.  A  difficult  commission  performed 
by  him  shortly  prior  to  his  death  was 
the  cleaning  of  a  flume  used  by  the  rail- 
way power  plant  at  Coscob,  this  being  ac- 
complished without  interruption  of  the 
flow  of  water  pipes  to  condensers.  He 
was  engaged  in  numerous  contracts  for 
dredging  and  construction  along  the 
Sound,  these  including  the  building  of 
foundations  for  various  bridges. 

Shortly  after  coming  to  Stamford,  Mr. 
Wardwell  began  assembling  a  fleet  of 
vessels  to  be  employed  in  his  work. 
Starting  in  a  modest  way,  and  making 
use  of  crude  contrivances,  he  gradually 
extended  this  equipment,  which  now 
comprises  the  dredge  "Urban,"  derrick- 
boat  "Orland,"  pile-drivers  "Castine"  and 
"Interurban,"  towboat  "Addie  V.,"  two 
large  and  two  small  scows  and  a  motor- 
boat.  He  employed  a  considerable  force 
of  men,  with  whom  his  relations  as  an 
employer  were  always  agreeable.  His 
determination  to  make  his  home  in  Stam- 
ford was  formed  soon  after  he  took  his 
first  contract  there.  He  was  attracted  to 
the  city,  and  took  a  lively  and  intelligent 
interest  in  public  affairs.  As  a  member  of 
a  committee  serving  without  compensa- 
tion he  furnished  valuable  information 
and  advice  regarding  sanitation,  and 
made  practical  suggestion  for  the  abate- 
ment of  what  has  long  been  described  as 
the  mill-pond  nuisance. 

He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  in  the  Fourth  Ward  in  1918 
and  reelected  in  1920;  he  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  Sanitation  Committee,  and 
performed  service  of  high  value  to  the 
city.  His  investigations  disclosed  condi- 
tions that  convinced  both  the  Common 
Council  and  the  Board  of  Finance  of  the 
desirability  of  appointing  a  full-time  food 
inspector,  to  give  proper  supervision  of 
the  slaughter  of  cattle  and  of  meat  sold 
for  food  purposes,  as  well  as  to  see  to 


the  strict  enforcement  of  ordinances  re- 
lating to  milk.  In  his  work  for  the  city 
he  displayed  the  same  desire  to  secure 
accurate  information,  and  to  carry  for- 
ward desirable  public  improvements,  as 
was  exhibited  in  his  own  business,  and  his 
death  was  felt  by  his  associates  as  a  seri- 
ous loss  to  the  municipality.  Mr.  Ward- 
well  was  retained  at  various  times  by 
corporations  to  make  investigations  of 
public  service  plants  throughout  the  coun- 
try, and  his  reports  were  relied  upon  for 
accuracy,  expertness  and  penetrating  in- 
sight into  fundamental  facts. 

Mr.  Wardwell  was  a  member  of  the 
American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  and 
the  Connecticut  and  Fairfield  County 
Engineers  associations.  His  clubs  were 
the  Kiwanis  and  the  Congregational 
Men's,  and  he  fraternized  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  having  joined  Ionic  Lodge, 
No.  17,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
Duluth,  Minnesota,  and  holding  the  sev- 
enteenth degree.  He  also  was  a  member 
of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  National 
Grange.  His  descent  in  the  line  of  eldest 
son  of  General  Bank  entitled  him  to  mem- 
bership in  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati, 
a  much  coveted  honor. 

Frederick  Schuyler  Wardwell  married, 
June  5,  1886,  Linda  Belle  Free,  daughter 
of  John  W.  and  Hannah  Ann  (Wait) 
Free,  of  Richmond,  Indiana,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  one  son,  Virgil  Em- 
ery, born  September  20,  1892,  and  edu- 
cated in  Stamford  public  schools  and  at 
the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technol- 
ogy, formerly  associated  with  his  father  in 
business ;  he  married  Gladys  Darling, 
daughter  of  David  Darling,  of  Rye,  New 
York,  and  they  have  three  children,  Fred- 
erick Schuyler  (2),  Katherine,  and  Virgil 
Emery,  Jr. 

Frederick  Schuyler  Wardwell  died  Jan- 
uary 16,  192 1.  From  the  great  number  of 
written  and  spoken  tributes  to  Stamford's 


224 


ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


well-loved  citizen  two  are  here  given 
place,  one  from  the  men  who  daily  fol- 
lowed his  leadership,  the  other  quoted 
from  the  funeral  address  by  Rev.  Alfred 
Grant  Walton : 

To  create,  to  build,  to  perfect,  constitute  the 
consecration  of  a  life  in  Christian  effort. 

We,  the  employees  of  F.  S.  Wardwell,  who  in 
the  past  few  hours  have  felt  the  loss  of  this 
respected  leader,  feel  that  his  life  has  been  de- 
voted to  these  principles. 

The  memories  of  him  that  will  endure  vary 
according  as  he  was  known.  Those  who  knew 
him  in  the  intimacy  of  his  own  home,  others  who 
knew  him  in  his  social  community  life,  and  still 
others  associated  with  him  in  the  service  of  civic 
government,  will  remember  him  as  he  lived  among 
them,  but  we,  who  have  toiled  with  him  in  his 
profession  for  years  past,  shall  remember  him  as 
we  knew  him  best — a  counselor,  guide  and  friend. 
Our  hopes  and  ambitions  he  made  his,  our  welfare 
he  placed  before  his  own.  In  times  of  indecision 
we  sought  his  counsel ;  in  times  of  need,  his  aid. 
At  the  noonday  meal,  where  he  habitually  took 
his  place  among  us  as  one  of  us,  there  will  re- 
main in  our  memory  a  vacant  chair. 

To  his  family,  his  relatives  and  friends,  who 
have  felt  this  sudden  loss,  we  express  our  sin- 
cerest  sympathy  and  that  they  may  feel  the  depth 
of  our  sympathy,  may  we  reverently  add  that  he, 
too,  was  "one  of  us." 

We  have  stopped  momentarily  in  the  pursuit  of 
our  daily  tasks  to  pay  tribute  of  respect  to  a  good 
citizen  and  friend  who  has  been  called  to  the 
realm  of  the  Unseen.  At  such  an  hour,  there  is 
no  need  for  encomium  or  panegyric,  for  the  life 
which  has  been  lived  for  twenty  years  amongst 
us  speaks  more  eloquently  than  any  words  which 
one  might  utter. 

Mr.  Wardwell  was  a  man  of  simplicity,  without 
show  or  ostentation,  and  these  obsequies  should 
be  in  harmony  with  his  simple  ways.  Yet  it  is 
the  privilege  of  all  who  knew  him  that  some  one 
should  speak  for  all  of  the  good  will  felt  toward 
him,  and  the  honor  in  which  his  memory  will 
be  held. 

Mr.  Wardwell  was  an  utterly  sincere  and  hon- 
est man.  There  was  no  sham  about  him,  no  exter- 
nal self  that  concealed  a  different  inner  self;  he 
was  genuine  through  and  through.  It  is  always 
refreshing  to  meet  such  a  person.  It  deepens  our 
confidence  in  humanity;  it  makes  easier  a  faith 
in   immortality;     it   increases   our   trust   in   God. 


Far  more  important  than  following  the  rubrics 
or  giving  intellectual  assent  to  various  formuli  of 
religious  belief  is  the  living  of  a  good,  clean, 
upright,  noble  life.  We  attest  our  appreciation  of 
a  man  who  in  every  personal  and  business  rela- 
tion revealed  such  a  life.  We  might  say  of  him 
what  Hallock  said  on  the  death  of  Joseph  Rod- 
man Drake:  "None  knew  him  but  to  love  him, 
nor  named  him  but  to  praise." 


WARDWELL,  Linda  Bell  (Mrs.  F.  S.), 

Noted  Musician,  Authoress. 

Musical  circles  throughout  the  country 
have  known  Mrs.  Wardwell  for  many 
years  in  concert  and  church  work,  and  es- 
pecially in  the  popularizing  of  musical 
study.  She  has  written  extensively  on 
musical  subjects  in  the  outlining  of 
courses  of  study  as  well  as  a  work  on 
American  composers,  and  all  of  her  vol- 
umes have  had  large  sale  and  wide  dis- 
tribution. This  she  has  accomplished, 
gaining  a  national  reputation  in  the  doing, 
while  active  in  civic  and  social  life,  and 
while  presiding  over  the  home  of  her  hus- 
band and  son,  a  circumstance  receiving 
more  than  passing  notice  even  in  an  age 
when  woman's  sphere  of  activity  is  con- 
stantly broadening.  Mrs.  Wardwell  is  a 
musician  of  talent,  with  a  gift  of  impart- 
ing her  knowledge  and  ability,  both  by  the 
spoken  and  written  word,  that  amounts 
to  genius. 

Mrs.  Wardwell  is  a  daughter  of  John 
W.  and  Hannah  Ann  (Wait)  Free.  John 
W.  Free  was  born  in  Akron,  Ohio,  about 
1830,  and  died  in  Providence,  Rhode  Is- 
land, in  1919.  He  was  the  inventor  of  a 
threshing  machine,  and  dealt  extensively 
in  many  States,  including  New  Hamp- 
shire, where  he  engaged  in  lengthy  litiga- 
tion to  recover  his  possessions  of  the 
Dixville  Notch,  Colbrook.  For  a  time  he 
was  resident  of  Richmond,  Indiana, 
moving  thence  to  Chicago,  Illinois.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife's  death 


Conn-8— 15 


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ENCYCLOPEDIA  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


occurring  about  i860,  and  their  three 
children  all  dying  young.  He  married 
(second)  in  La  Porte,  Indiana,  Hannah 
Ann  Wait,  who  died  in  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota, in  1886,  and  their  only  child  was 
Mrs.  Wardwell.' 

Maternally  Mrs.  Wardwell  is  de- 
scended from  an  ancient  and  distin- 
guished English  family,  that  of  Wait. 
When  surnames  were  generally  intro- 
duced into  England  in  the  eleventh  cen- 
tury, those  who  held  an  office  in  most 
cases  added  its  designation  to  their  Chris- 
tian names,  thus:  Richard,  the  minstrel- 
watchman,  who  was  known  as  Richard  le 
(the)  Wayte,  afterward  contracted  to 
Richard  Wayte.  The  name  has  since 
been  spelled  Wayte,  Wayt,  Wayght, 
Waight,  Wait,  Waitt,  Wate,  Weight, 
Waiet,  etc.  In  A.  D.  1075,  William  the 
Conqueror  gave  the  earldom,  city  and 
castle  of  Norwich  in  England  to  "Ralf 
de  Waiet"  (son  of  "Ralf,"  an  Englishman, 
by  a  Welsh  woman),  who  married  Emma, 
sister  to  Roger,  Earl  of  Hereford,  cousin 
of  the  Conqueror,  etc.  The  records  show 
that  Ricardus  le  Wayte,  of  County  War- 
wick, in  131 5  was  Escheator  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Wilts,  Oxford,  Berkshire,  Bedford, 
and  Bucks.  Like  many  of  the  ancient 
families  of  Britain,  this  one  had  its  coat- 
of-arms  down  to  the  middle  of  the  sev- 
enteenth century. 

Arms — Argent,  a  chevron  between  three  bugle 
horns,  stringed,  sable,  garnished  or. 

Crest — A  bugle  horn  stringed,  garnished  or. 

Motto — Pro  oris  et  focis.  (For  our  homes  and 
our  altars). 

When  Charles  II.  ascended  the  throne 
in  1660,  those  who  were  instrumental  in 
putting  his  father  to  death  were  brought 
to  the  scaffold  (except  John  Dixwell,  Wil- 
liam Goffe  and  Edward  Whalley,  who  fled 
to  America),  and  Thomas  Wayte  being 
one  of  that  number. 

English  records  mention  these  Waits 


of  distinction:  Thomas  Waite,  M.  P.,  for 
Rutlandshire,  one  of  the  judges  who  sat 
upon  the  trial  of  and  passed  sentence 
upon  the  unfortunate  Charles  I. ;  Sir 
Nicholas  Waite,  Knight  of  Chertsey  in 
Surrey ;  and  Sir  Thomas  Wait.  Receiver- 
General  in  the  reign  of  King  James  I. 

The  American  founders  of  the  family 
were  Richard,  John,  and  Thomas  Wait, 
early  settlers  in  New  England,  and  heads 
of  numerous  lines.  Mrs.  Wardwell  is  a 
granddaughter  of  Josiah  Wait,  born  in 
Alstead,  New  Hampshire,  January  13, 
1786,  and  Martha  Ann  (Graham)  Wait, 
born  March  2,  1790.  Josiah  Wait  was  a 
son  of  Thomas  Wait,  and  was  a  native  of 
Alstead,  New  Hampshire,  early  in  life 
moving  to  Ovid,  New  York,  thence  to 
York,  New  York,  and  subsequently  to 
Perry,  Lake  county,  Ohio,  probably  the 
birthplace  of  Hannah  Ann  Wait.  Issue 
of  Josiah  and  Martha  Ann  (Graham) 
Wait:  1.  Jonathan,  born  November  22, 
1811,  died  in  1893;  spent  most  of  his  life 
in  Sturgis,  Michigan ;  in  1850  was  elected 
to  the  State  Legislature,  and  in  i860  to 
the  State  Senate,  being  reelected  and 
serving  for  six  years.  2.  Ann  Lakin,  born 
February  24,  1814,  died  August  30,  1839. 
3.  Arthur  Graham,  born  April  4,  1816, 
died  October  13,  1817.  4.  Alonzo  Davis, 
born  June  8,  1818,  died  December  17, 
1819.  5.  Oneon  Anson,  born  March  14, 
1821.  6.  Harriet  Stebbins,  born  June  17, 
1823.  7.  William  Washington,  born  Oc- 
tober 14,  1825 ;  settled  in  Excelsior,  Min- 
nesota, on  Lake  Minnetonka.  8.  Hugh 
Graham,  born  November  3,  1828.  9. 
Hannah  Ann,  born  July  9,  1832,  died  in 
1886;  married  John  W.  Free. 

Linda  Belle  (Free)  Wardwell  was  born 
in  Richmond,  Indiana,  July  19,  1865. 
After  attending  the  public  schools  of  Chi- 
cago, she  began  her  musical  education  in 
the  Chicago  Musical  College,  whence  she 
graduated,  and  later  obtained  a  teacher's 


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certificate  from  the  Petersilea  Academy 
of  Music,  o